Department of Health and Social Care

Hospitals: Admissions

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the most common cause of unplanned admissions to hospitals in England is; and what steps he is taking to reduce the need for those admissions.

Edward Argar: The most common cause of unplanned admissions from the most recent data available (2018/19) was for those with primary diagnosis of diseases of the digestive system.As part of the NHS Long Term Plan there are five workstreams that underpin the Urgent and Emergency Care reform programme. As part of this programme steps taken to reduce the need for admissions have included Same Day Emergency Care which has increased the proportion of people who are not admitted overnight in an emergency. In addition NHS 111 has been enhanced, so that over 50% of people calling the service receive a clinical assessment over the phone and can be offered immediate clinical advice or be referred to the right clinician for a face to face consultation, thereby reducing the need for hospital admissions.

Out of Area Treatment: Wales

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government’s policy is for NHS England receiving patients from Wales for healthcare.

Caroline Dinenage: Detailed arrangements for delivering healthcare between the National Health Service in England and the NHS in Wales across the England-Wales border are set out in the new ‘Statement of Values and Principles’ which can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/part-rel/x-border-health/

Royal Liverpool Hospital: Genito-urinary Medicine

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has received on the decision of Liverpool Royal Hospital to reduce treatment for patients located in Wales for urinary tract care; and what steps the Government has taken to mitigate the effect of that decision on patients' health.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients from (a) English and (b) Welsh postcode areas have been treated at Liverpool Royal Hospital for urinary tract care in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: Liverpool University Hospital Trust contacted Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in March 2019 to outline its position regarding urology services for residents of North Wales. This position was twofold:The Trust and the Health Board agreed that new referrals of bladder cancer patients for radical cystectomy would cease from 5 April 2019. This was due to reduced specialist surgical cover following a 12 month period of maternity leave from June 2019. Despite rigorous attempts, the Trust had been unable to provide short term cover in this area of national staff shortage. Whilst the Trust committed to treating all patients referred prior to 5 April, the acceptance of new referrals ended after this date. It was therefore considered that the best course of action for patients was for the Health Board to make alternative arrangements for new referrals. The Trust informed the health board that it would be enacting Trust policy ensuring that specialist urological cancer surgery was prioritised for patients within its immediate locality. The attached table contains the number of patients that have been treated from English and Welsh postcode at Liverpool Royal Hospital for urinary tract care in each of the last five years. The Urinary Tract Outpatient number of patients will give the overall number of patients from Wales receiving treatment or review.



PQ292118 Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 555.56 KB)

Diabetes: Medical Equipment

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many flash glucose monitors and sensors were prescribed from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019 in each CCG area.

Jo Churchill: The information is not available in the format requested.

Coeliac Disease: Prescriptions

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a national gluten-free prescribing scheme for England to avoid variation in prescribing policies across different Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Infectious Diseases: Climate Change

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has undertaken of the public health threats posed to the UK by climate change driven changes to vector-borne disease.

Jo Churchill: Public Health England continually assesses the risks posed by climate change to the changing public health threats posed by vector-borne disease. This can be viewed at the following link:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(15)70091-5/fulltext

Climate Change: Epidemiology

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of climate change on the adequacy of the level of national surveillance of disease-spreading vectors in the UK.

Jo Churchill: Climate change has been identified as one of the factors for changes in the distribution of arthropod disease vectors in Europe.Specific research on climate and environmental change has been conducted through academic collaborations under the Health Protection Research Units. Summaries of the risks and ongoing work has been published in peer-reviewed journals. This research can be viewed at the following link:http://www.hpruezi.nihr.ac.uk/Public Health England (PHE) has established surveillance and research, working with United Kingdom academics and international partners, to prepare for current and future vector-related risks in response to climate and environmental change. PHE’s assessment of the public health threats posed by Vector-Borne Disease in the United Kingdom because of climate change can be found at the following links:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(15)70091-5/fulltexthttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/10/2145

Mosquitoes: Disease Control

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) the cost would be and (b) assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending the surveillance of invasive mosquitoes to cover the whole UK.

Jo Churchill: It is not possible to specifically attribute a cost to the potential merits of extending the surveillance of invasive mosquitoes to cover the whole United Kingdom.Surveillance for invasive mosquitoes was initiated by the Health Protection Agency in 2010 at UK air and seaports. This can be viewed at the following links:https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-015-0936-9https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12396

MMR Vaccine: Greater London

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what targeted action his Department is taking to increase the take up of the MMR vaccine in London.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Heart Diseases: Health Services

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that women receive the same standard of care as men during diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of heart disease or a heart attack.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Heart Diseases: Females

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the misconception that heart attacks do not happen to women among (a) doctors and (b) the public.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust: Capital Investment

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust has requested from his Department for capital building projects.

Edward Argar: The Department does not hold information centrally on all submitted capital bids.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he approved the practice of sharing patients’ identities with credit check firms to find overseas visitors who can be charged; if he will take steps to put an end to that practice; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: This Government is committed to ensuring that the public's data is used lawfully, with respect and that the right safeguards are in place.Eligibility for free National Health Service secondary care is based on being ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Providers of this care are required by law to make and recover charges from patients who are not ordinarily resident in the UK, unless an exemption from charge category applies.How they undertake the duty of establishing the residence status of their patients and if charges apply is a matter for them but in doing so they must ensure they act without discrimination and comply with the current legal framework.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to answer Question 287926 tabled on 6 September 2019 by the hon. Member for the City of Chester.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Patients: Transport

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to review the eligibility criteria for NHS patient transport.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hepatitis: Health Services

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were treated for hepatitis C in England in the financial year 2018-19.

Jo Churchill: Public Health England publishes information on the numbers of individual’s accessing hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in their annual hepatitis C reports.Latest available data for 2017/18 financial year show that 11,557 people were reported to have accessed HCV treatment in England. This can be viewed at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/798270/HCV_in-England_2019.pdfData for the 2018/19 financial year for England will be published in 2020.

Hepatitis: Screening

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure people who are in contact with drug treatment services are tested for hepatitis C.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Dornase Alfa

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has included the drug Dornase Alfa in the priority stockpiling list in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products, including dornase alfa, once we have left the EU.The Department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plansAll prescription only medicines and pharmacy medicines imported from or via the EU/European Economic Area are within scope of the continuity of supply programme. All suppliers of these medicines, including suppliers of dornase alfa, have been asked to stockpile medicines and make other preparations as set out in our communications to suppliers.

Department of Health and Social Care: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Caroline Dinenage: For the period 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2019 my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met with the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) three times, the CSA met with other Health Ministers on seven occasions.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients that waited longer than four hours in A&E in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2018-19.

Edward Argar: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 03 October 2019.The correct answer should have been:

In 2009-10 there were 20,511,908 attendances of which 353,617 patients waited longer than four hours in accident and emergency.In 2018-19 there were 24,826,981 attendances of which 2,976,112 people waited more than four hours but in the face of rising demand, over 4,315,000 1,692,578 more patients were seen within four hours compared to 2009-10.

Edward Argar: In 2009-10 there were 20,511,908 attendances of which 353,617 patients waited longer than four hours in accident and emergency.In 2018-19 there were 24,826,981 attendances of which 2,976,112 people waited more than four hours but in the face of rising demand, over 4,315,000 1,692,578 more patients were seen within four hours compared to 2009-10.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people on NHS waiting lists in England in (a) 2010 and (b) 2019.

Edward Argar: NHS England publishes performance data on a monthly basis, including the current waiting lists for consultant-led Referral-to-Treatment (RTT).The RTT waiting list in March 2010 was 2.42 million, compared to 4.23 million in March 2019. The most recent data from July 2019 indicates a current RTT waiting list of 4.37 million.Published data on RTT waiting times is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/

Department of Health and Social Care: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of his Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Caroline Dinenage: We do not have a record of any meetings or calls taking place between Departmental Ministers and Mr Crispin Odey.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what procedures are in place to record the number of patients  offered (a) evening and (b) weekend appointments at GP surgeries.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Equipment: Prescriptions

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy for NHS England to require (a) Clinical Commissioning Groups and (b) NHS trusts that have formularies which do not list all of the medical devices available on Part IX of the Drug Tariff to issue guidance to clinicians on their ability to prescribe the most appropriate medical device available through that tariff and to include a link to that tariff online.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Equipment

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made on ensuring the smooth flow of medical devices in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with a deal and (b) without a deal.

Edward Argar: If the United Kingdom leaves the European Union with a deal, the current regulatory regimes will continue to apply in relation to product standards, transportation and customs, duties and tariffs, during the implementation period.The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the EU without a deal. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.The Department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent research she has commissioned on the safety of (a) milk and (b) meat that enters the human food chain of cattle slaughtered as a result of bovine TB incidence.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of women that did not receive Hormone Replacement Therapy as a result of shortages of those therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle delays in the supply of HRT medications.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Eyesight: Testing

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for eye care appointments.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Catheters: Plastics

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS England's reduction of single-use plastics in healthcare do not prevent best practice in approaches to catheterisation.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Any reduction in single-use plastics in healthcare would need to be supported by research and have the backing of clinical and technical experts.NHS England and NHS Improvement is currently focusing on reducing the use of avoidable single use plastics in catering services. Products targeted include single-use plastic stirrers and straws, except where a person has a specific need, in line with the Government consultation on single-use plastic cutlery, plates or single-use cups made of expanded polystyrene or oxo-degradable plastics.We are committed to the National Health Service “being the safest healthcare system in the world”. The NHS Patient Safety Strategy was published in July 2019.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) terms of reference and (b) timeframe is for the National Bowel and Bladder Product trial undertaken by NHS England; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: The National Bowel and Bladder Health (NBBH) Project was developed following a series of workshops held between members of the Excellence in Continence (EICC) Board and the All Parliamentary Group on continence in 2018, with the aim of aligning objectives across existing initiatives to support the delivery of the Excellence in Continence Care Programme. The NBBH Project terms of reference, with oversight from the EICC Board, are being reviewed and updated by workstream membership with an expectation that they will be finalised by the next EICC board meeting in December when timeframes for delivery will also be confirmed.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the National Bowel and Bladder product trial undertaken by NHS England does not result in a restriction of the full range of medical devices available for clinicians to prescribe through Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Caroline Dinenage: The role of the National Bowel and Bladder Health Project is to promote and improve patient care. Through this work, expert practitioners will be determining what standards they require from products to meet the needs of their patients. This will be done through a Stakeholder Council with patient, health and care professionals and supplier involvement. We will consider carefully the output from this work and the views of our expert practitioners and may, if necessary, make changes to the range of products available in the National Health Service to improve patient care if we find that existing products offer poor quality or value for money.

General Practitioners: Postnatal Care

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to implement the recommendation in the National Childbirth Trust's Hidden Half campaign to add a maternal six week postnatal check to the GP contract.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Bowel Cancer: Health Education

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to increase public awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

HIV Infection

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 July 2019 to Question 280282, on HIV infection, if he will place in the Library the number of finished consultant episodes in relation to (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnoses of HIV infection in (i) England and (ii) each English region in each year since 1989; and if he will provide that information in the format used in the Answer of 19 March 2015 to Question 227661.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Gender Recognition

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on transgender people of the shortage of Hormone Replacement Therapy medication.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Vaccination: Children

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with (a) representatives of clinical commissioning groups and (b) families on increasing the uptake of childhood immunisation.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

MMR Vaccine

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has assessed the potential effect on public health of allowing children who have not received the MMR vaccine to start primary school in September 2019.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to prevent children who have not received the MMR vaccine from attending school.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Vaccination: Children

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) falling rates of childhood vaccination and (b) anti-vaccine misinformation.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department of Health and Social Care: Carbon Emissions

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 September 2019 to Question 290332 on Department of Health and Social Care: Energy Supply, what initiatives are included in the on-going programme to reduce emissions; and what the timeframe is for the implementation of each of those initiatives.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department undertakes a rolling programme of initiatives to reduce emissions. This includes works to lighting, heating and ventilation systems and building energy systems. We do not have a timeframe for each individual initiative. A sample of some initiatives are listed in the following table:  Heating, ventilation and air conditioningBoiler optimisation, heating additive to improve efficiency, Smartcool (cooling optimisation)LightingLighting upgrades including photo cell and passive infrared sensors, replacement LED lightingBuilding EnergyMonthly energy consumption dashboard

Cancer: Children

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that medicines to treat cancer in children are available in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products, including those to treat cancer in children, once we have left the EU.The Department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

Rare Cancers: Children

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal on access to EU clinical trials for children with rare cancers.

Caroline Dinenage: The United Kingdom and the European Union have a long track record of jointly tackling global challenges with strong existing links already in place between our research and innovation communities. We look forward to continuing our relationship in research and innovation with the EU, regardless of EU exit.As part of exit negotiations, we are working to ensure that we continue to have the best possible environment in which to support clinical trials. Our overall aim is to ensure that patients in the UK, including children with rare cancers, have access to the best and most innovative medicines.The Department has and continues to examine the effect on clinical trials of the UK leaving the EU with and without a deal across a range of areas, including access to, and mobility of, the research leaders and the technical and research delivery workforce; access to EU research funding; the regulation of clinical trials, data and devices; rare diseases research; and clinical trials supplies.With regards to children with rare cancers, we are fully aware that the scarcity of patients in any single country means that clinical research into rare diseases strongly benefits from international collaboration.It is important to make clear that irrespective of whether we leave the EU with or without a deal, the UK’s ability to participate in multinational trials, in the EU or the rest of the world, will not change and UK clinical trial applications will continue to be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and ethical committees as they are now.Beyond EU Exit, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) cancer research expenditure has risen from £101 million in 2010/11 to £136 million in 2017/18, which constitutes the largest investment in a disease area. The NIHR Clinical Research Network has over 800 cancer trials and studies recruiting or in set-up. Through the NIHR Clinical Research Network, the proportion of patients entering cancer clinical trials and studies is more than double that in any other country for which data exists, including the United States.The NIHR works with Cancer Research UK to fund the Paediatric Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network which plays a leading role in speeding up the process of cancer drug development and the search for cancer biomarkers – molecules present in blood or tissue - that can be used to diagnose cancer, predict the aggressiveness of the disease, or show whether a drug will be effective in a specific patient and at what dose.

European Reference Networks

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for maintaining access to (a) the European Reference Network on paediatric haemato-oncology and (b) other European reference networks in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government would prefer to leave the European Union with a deal and will work in an energetic and determined way to get a better deal. However, if we were to leave the EU without a deal, it is expected that the United Kingdom would lose membership of European Reference Networks. UK patients will continue to benefit from the world-leading clinical expertise available here in the UK and patients will have the same access to UK expertise as they do now.

Infectious Diseases: Research

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research funding his Department has allocated to the research on the  treatment of vector borne diseases prevalent in the UK.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and is the largest public funder of health research in the United Kingdom. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including vector borne diseases. The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections total funding of nearly £4.7 million. It has five research themes all of which play a role in protecting England from emerging infections and zoonoses. One of these themes focuses specifically on Vector Biology and Climate Modelling, identifying mosquito- and tick-borne viral threats to the UK and how the climate impacts these threats.

Infectious Diseases: Research

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of funding allocated by his Department to research on the (a) prevention and (b) cure of vector-borne diseases prevalent in the UK.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and is the largest public funder of health research in the United Kingdom. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including vector borne diseases. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Emerging and Zoonotic Infections is undertaking work on vector borne diseases including tick borne viral threats. The commissioning of the unit was subject to the same vigour processes as all other NIHR funded research.

Cancer: Electricity and Mobile Phones

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people with cancer that live within a mile of (a) an electricity pylon and (b) a mobile telecommunications mast.

Jo Churchill: No assessment has been made of the number of people who have cancer living either within a mile of an electricity pylon or mobile telecommunications mast.

GP Surgeries: Southampton

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure local surgeries in Southampton are not understaffed.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department of Health and Social Care: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely.The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

Health Services: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the median waiting time for (a) inpatient and (b) outpatient treatment was for patients in York in (i) May 2015 and (ii) May of each subsequent year.

Edward Argar: Median elective waiting times, in days, for inpatient admissions and first outpatient attendances in York for May of each year from 2015 to 2019 is shown in the following table. This is a count of admissions/attendances, not people, as the same person may have been admitted or attended hospital on more than one occasion within any given time period. Inpatient admissions*Outpatient first attendances* Number of records with a valid waiting timeMedian waiting time (days)Number of records with a valid waiting timeMedian waiting time (days)May 20151,585413,23532May 20161,705425,10035May 20171,760484,83036May 20181,660424,62030May 20191,570514,27533Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital   Note: Admitted patient care data for May 2019 and outpatient activity for May 2018 and 2019 is provisional and subject to change.

York Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for treatment in the A&E department at York Hospital in each year since 2015.

Edward Argar: The average waiting times for treatment at York Hospital by year from 2014/15-2018/19 are set out in the following table: A count of unplanned accident and emergency attendances with mean and median durations (minutes) to initial treatment at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2014-15 to 2018-19 TreatmentYearMeanMedian2014-1575582015-1690692016-1795732017-1893732018-199576

Domestic Accidents: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many falls (a) at home and (b) in total were recorded by health and social care providers in (i) York Central constituency and (ii) City of York local authority area in each year since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: Patient safety remains a key priority for the Department and we are committed to the National Health Service being the safest healthcare system in the world.Non-NHS health and social care providers must notify the Care Quality Commission when a person has been seriously injured while a regulated activity was being provided. NHS providers are required to report falls and other serious incidents to the National Reporting and Learning System which is managed by NHS England and NHS Improvement.However, the data compiled by the Care Quality Commission and by NHS England and NHS Improvement in these cases is not held in the format requested.

Carers: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many family members looking after a relative at home were registered as carers with the local authority in (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area in each year since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: The number of family members looking after a relative at home who are registered as carers with their local authority is not held centrally.

Mental Health: Children

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to schools on children’s mental and emotional health.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Public Health England has published two documents for schools on children’s mental and emotional health. These can be viewed at the following links:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-children-and-young-peoples-emotional-health-and-wellbeinghttps://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/schools-in-mind/resources-for-schools/mental-health-toolkit-for-schools/This guidance complements ‘Mental Health and Behaviour’ guidance issued by the Department for Education (2018) which is available to view at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) national and (b) localised schemes have been devised by his Department to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; and which external organisations or associations are involved in those schemes.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Local National Health Service children and young people’s mental health services are the responsibility of local mental health trusts, funded by local clinical commissioning groups, which all work to improve local provision in each area, through local transformation plans, with a range of external partners.In terms of national programmes to improve children and young people’s mental health services, the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, commits to ensuring that by 2023/24, at least an additional 345,000 children and young people aged 0-25 will be able to access support via NHS-funded mental health services and school– or college-based mental health support teams. The Plan also commits to 24/7 mental health crisis provision for children and young people that combines crisis assessment, brief response and intensive home treatment functions and there will be a comprehensive offer for 0-25 year olds that reaches across mental health services for children, young people and adults.

Drugs: Misuse

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle substance abuse in (a) the City of York local authority, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asthma: Prescriptions

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to add asthma to the list of long-term medical conditions that are exempt from prescription charges.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Vaccination: North East

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what lessons can be learnt from the higher rates of immunisation in the North East.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Health Services: British Nationals Abroad

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK citizens living in the EU receive healthcare in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Edward Argar: The Government’s priority is to maintain reciprocal healthcare arrangements with Member States (MS) when we leave the European Union. That is why the United Kingdom Government has proposed consistently to all MS that existing reciprocal healthcare arrangements (under Regulation 883) continue until 31 December 2020 in a ‘no deal’ scenario.I laid a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1832) on 26 September 2019, which sets out the current status of arrangements with Member States and outlines in detail the support which the UK Government will provide should the UK leave the EU without a deal.

Health Services: British Nationals Abroad

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter to UK citizens residing in the EU from NHS Business Services Authority dated 23 September 2019, what estimate he has made of the time it will take for his Department to settle payments for the treatment specified in that letter; and if he will publish that letter.

Edward Argar: The United Kingdom Government has announced it will fund the healthcare of existing UK-insured individuals living or working in the European Union, on the same basis as now, for a further six months after exit day if we leave without a deal. The mechanisms and the time taken to make these payments will depend on the Member State.The UK is, in the first instance, seeking to use established processes and continue making payments at country-to-country level as we do now. If Member States do not agree to this, the UK Government will offer to pay healthcare providers in the EU directly. The timing of the payment will depend on when providers or individuals provide the necessary information to NHS Business Services Authority. Payments will be made within five days after a request for reimbursement has been validated. A copy of the letter sent to UK pensioners and benefit holders living in the EU from NHS Business Services Authority is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-steps-to-protect-healthcare-access-for-uk-nationals-living-in-the-eu-after-31-october

Malnutrition

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of patients readmitted to hospital were diagnosed with malnutrition in the last 12 months.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hospitals: Construction

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's News story of 29 September 2019, New hospital building programme, what discussions his Department had with the NHS Property Board on those 40 hospital building projects prior to that announcement being made.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's News story of 29 September 2019, New hospital building programme, what discussions his Department had with the appropriate Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships on those 40 hospital building projects prior to that announcement being made.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's News story of 29 September 2019, New hospital building programme, what criteria were used to assess the relative merits of those 40 hospital building projects.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's News story of 29 September 2019, New hospital building programme, which NHS bodies were involved in the assessment of the relative merits of those 40 hospital building projects prior to that announcement being made.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's News story of 29 September 2019, New hospital building programme, how many of those 40 hospital building projects have submitted business cases for approval.

Edward Argar: On 29 September, the Government announced the largest hospital building programme in a generation as part of a new Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP) that is backed by a long-term programme of investment. The plan’s new, strategic approach will ensure the health service will have world-class facilities for patients and staff for the long term.The HIP1 and HIP2 schemes were selected through the following process:NHS England and NHS Improvement conducted a strategic assessment of hospital estates and came up with a list of priority schemes. These were selected on the basis of age and/or where a combination of other metrics that indicated a high need for investment in the estate. This included the consideration of the high value scheme bids submitted by providers as part of previous sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) capital rounds, and other relevant previous representations by trusts and STPs. The other metrics being - Estates and facilities running costs; backlog costs; Critical Infrastructure Risk (a subset of the highest risk elements of backlog with a potential for significant impact e.g. fire safety); unused and functionally unsuitable space; and incidents having an impact on clinical services.Based on that, a small number of schemes were identified as being suitable to fully fund now, given their advanced level of readiness to deliver in near future. These are the six projects for HIP1.The remaining list of priority schemes was then further filtered based on a combination of criteria, including the level of Critical Infrastructure Risk in the estate and an overall check of the regional breakdown (to make sure no regions were over or under-represented), and engagements through National Health Service regional teams. This gave us the 21 projects identified to receive seed funding to kick start their schemes, ready for building in HIP2.HIP scheme selection was not specifically discussed at the NHS Property Board, which did not meet during the period when final decisions were made. However, the underlying principles and issues have been discussed previously by the NHS Property Board and members were involved in discussions that led to the final selection of schemes.Schemes will be required to submit business cases to provide the required standard assurance on the key features including patient benefits, value for money and commercial terms etc. A number of the six HIP1 schemes have submitted business cases to NHS Improvement previously but these will need to be developed further or revised to align with the current scope of their scheme. The Department is looking to speed up and streamline the business case process and approvals.

Degarelix

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the continued supply of Degaralix for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance applies to commissioners of NHS services on disclosure of information during any contracting process.

Edward Argar: The guidance which applies to commissioners of National Health Service services will depend upon the specific Regulations they have undertaken their contracting process through. In all instances we would expect the commissioner to adhere to good practice in relation to procurement.If the contracting process was undertaken following the NHS Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations 2013 any disclosure of information should be undertaken in line with the Health and Social Care Act 2012.If the contracting process was undertaken following the Public Contract Regulations 2015 any disclosure of information should be in line with Clause 21.Commissioners will also need to comply with the disclosure of information requirements in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

NHS Trusts: Subsidiary Companies

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has held with HM Treasury on reductions in VAT resulting from the establishment of wholly-owned subsidiary companies to deliver estates and property services for the NHS.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate the Government has made of the additional income NHS Trusts have received through changes in VAT treatment following the creation of wholly owned subsidiary companies to deliver estates and property services.

Edward Argar: We can confirm that no such discussions have taken place. The Department wrote out to the finance directors of all National Health Service providers in September 2017 reminding them of their responsibilities around tax and advising that tax avoidance arrangements should not be entered into under any circumstances. We would expect all NHS providers to follow this guidance when considering any new arrangements or different ways of working. Given these safeguards which are in place around tax avoidance in the NHS, no discussions have taken place between the Department of Health and Social Care and HM Treasury. We can confirm that no such estimate has been made. There are a number of reasons for a Trust to set up a subsidiary company, including:- Employ staff on more flexible and in some cases more generous terms and conditions;- Providing services for other trusts; and- Being able to attract staff from the local employment market.

NHS Trusts: Subsidiary Companies

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many proposals to form new NHS wholly owned subsidiary companies have been assessed through the Addendum to the transactions guidance for NHS Trusts forming or changing a subsidiary dated November 2018.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many proposals to form new NHS wholly owned subsidiary companies have been received under the Addendum to the transactions guidance for trusts forming or changing a subsidiary dated November 2018.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of the process to review proposals to form new NHS wholly owned subsidiary companies under the Addendum to the transactions guidance for trusts forming or changing a subsidiary dated November 2018.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government has made on planning for the review of the first year of the addendum to the transactions guidance for trusts forming or changing a subsidiary dated November 2018.

Edward Argar: Ministers do not have a role in approving Wholly Owned Subsidiary companies created by NHS foundation trusts, with this role delegated by powers to NHS England and NHS Improvement.At the end of August 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement had been notified of 16 business cases as part of their Wholly Owned Subsidiary review process. A number of these are still ‘live’ cases where information is still being received as part of the review. All cases have been reviewed to consider their relative risks, according to the requirements of the Addendum to the transactions guidance.When NHS England and NHS Improvement published their guidance for trusts forming or changing a subsidiary, in November 2018, it committed to a review of the proposals for implementing a subsidiary a year later. Work is ongoing to collect information on the impact of the proposals; it is expected that the outcome of this work this will be published early in 2020.

Sevoflurane

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospitals use Sevoflurane anaesthetic gas; and what assessment the Government has made of the potential environmental benefits of hospitals using Sevoflurane gas rather than Desflurane gas.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Care Homes: Abuse

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 67,500 allegations of mistreatment in care homes received by the Care Quality Commission in 2018, what steps the Government will take to increase prosecution rates.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department expects those providing the service, local authorities and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to take swift action where anyone alleges poor care, neglect or abuse.Since 2015, the CQC has had prosecution powers pursuant to the Health and Social Care Act 2008. These include the criminal offence in respect of Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in cases involving avoidable harm or a significant risk of avoidable harm to service users.Although there were 67,500 allegations of mistreatment in care homes in 2018, the number of qualified allegations will be less than this figure. Within those qualified allegations, not all of them will be of as significant concern as to begin legal proceedings in the form of criminal prosecution. As such, numbers of prosecutions will be expected to be far lower than any number of allegations.

Niraparib

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Glaxo on the ovarian cancer drug Zejula.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Cochlear Implants

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the new cochlear implant for deafness be available on the NHS.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England commissions cochlear implants for patients who fulfil the criteria as described in the recently published he National Institute for Health and Care Excellence report ‘Cochlear implants for children and adults with severe to profound deafness: Technology appraisal guidance’ published on 7 March 2019 at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta566There are a number of cochlear implant devices currently available. Specific advice about which of the devices currently available meet an individual patients requirements would be provided by a patient’s local specialist cochlear implant centre.

Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle health tourism.

Edward Argar: The Department is committed to recovering National Health Service charges from overseas visitors and continues to support the NHS in achieving a higher rate of cost recovery from chargeable overseas visitors and migrants and reduce health tourism rates. This has raised over £1.3 billion since 2015, with the total amount identified continuing to rise each year from £89 million in 2012/13 to £464 million in 2018/19. The Government recently announced an investment of £1 million to expand a team of NHS experts whose role is to assist and support NHS organisations to understand the cost recovery rules and ensure they are applied fairly and consistently. In January 2019, the Government increased the rates of the immigration health surcharge to £400 per year, or £300 for students, to better reflect the actual costs to the NHS of treating those who pay the surcharge. This now generates over £400 million per year for the NHS whilst reducing the administrative burden on the NHS associated with identifying and charging eligible patients. Since 2017, chargeable patients seeking to access treatment that is not urgent or immediately necessary are required to pay upfront and in full before they receive the treatment.

Spina Bifida

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with spina bifida in each of the last three years.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of children in the UK diagnosed with congenital heart disease in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: The following table shows the number of reported cases of spina bifida in England in the last three years for which data are available. These data include all reported cases of spina bifida registerable in accordance with European network of population-based registries for the epidemiological surveillance of congenital anomalies (EUROCAT) guidance which is available at the following link:https://eu-rd-platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eurocatThese data exclude spontaneous miscarriage before 20 weeks gestation and cases of spina bifida occulta. Number of reported cases of spina bifida in England, 2015 - 2017Year of birthNumber of reported spina bifida casesTotal number of births (coverage)Total number of births in EnglandEstimated number of cases for England201575141,474667,3513542016204329,301666,0504132017181320,013649,330367Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ncardrs-congenital-anomaly-annual-data The following table shows the estimated number of cases of congenital heart disease in England in the last three years for which data are available. These data include all reported cases of CHD registerable in accordance with European network of population-based registries for the epidemiological surveillance of congenital anomalies (EUROCAT) guidance which can be viewed at the following linkhttps://eu-rd-platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eurocatThis is likely to be an under-estimate of the actual number of cases as milder forms of congenital heart disease are often diagnosed later. The estimated number of reported cases of congenital heart disease in England, 2015 - 2017Year of birthNumber of reported CHD casesTotal number of births (coverage)England Total number of births in EnglandEstimated number of cases for England2015706141,474667,3513,33020162,169329,301666,0504,38720172,188320,013649,3304,440 Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ncardrs-congenital-anomaly-annual-data

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis by (a) age and (b) gender in each of the last three years.

Caroline Dinenage: The information requested on pulmonary fibrosis diagnoses is provided in the attached document. 



pq293585 table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 21.26 KB)

Healthy Start Scheme

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of Healthy Start vouchers.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Amazon

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department is having with Amazon to ensure that the health information to be made available through Alexa, announced on 10 July 2019, will be accessible to people with speech, language and communication needs.

Ms Nadine Dorries: In response to questions asked by users, the information that Amazon Alexa provides is taken directly from the National Health Service website. This NHS-accredited information is already available for free to anyone with access to the internet, including those who have speech, language and communication needs. Amazon Alexa provides an alternative way in which the public are able to access professional NHS-verified information. This technology enables patients, including the elderly, blind or those unable to access the internet via traditional means, to receive professional NHS-verified health information within seconds through simple voice commands.

Speech and Language Therapy: Children

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report of the Children's Commissioner entitled We need to talk: Access to speech and language therapy, published in June 2019, what plans he has to require all local areas to have a strategic plan in place which assesses the level of speech, language and communication in their area.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government recognises that speech, language and communication skills are a primary indicator of child wellbeing.The Prevention Green Paper made clear that the Government will continue to prioritise improving early speech and language outcomes as a preventative measure with strategic leadership across education, health and social care to narrow inequalities. The Government will also continue to work with local areas to support them to put in place joined-up strategies and services at local level that give children and families the support they need. The Prevention Green Paper is currently out for consultation regarding how action can be taken forward.

Hospitals: Construction

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the criteria on which the choice of the 40 hospitals for renovation as part of his recent capital announcement was based.

Edward Argar: On 29 September the Government announced the largest hospital building programme in a generation as part of a new Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP) that is backed by a long-term programme of investment. The plan’s new, strategic approach will ensure the health service will have world-class facilities for patients and staff for the long term.The HIP1 and HIP2 schemes were selected through the following process:NHS England and NHS Improvement conducted a strategic assessment of hospital estates and came up with a list of priority schemes. These were selected on the basis of age and/or where a combination of other metrics that indicated a high need for investment in the estate. This included the consideration of the high value scheme bids submitted by providers as part of previous sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) capital rounds, and other relevant previous representations by trusts and STPs. The other metrics being - Estates and facilities running costs; backlog costs; Critical Infrastructure Risk (a subset of the highest risk elements of backlog with a potential for significant impact e.g. fire safety); unused and functionally unsuitable space; and incidents having an impact on clinical services.Based on that, a small number of schemes were identified as being suitable to fully fund now, given their advanced level of readiness to deliver in near future. These are the six projects for HIP1.The remaining list of priority schemes was then further filtered based on a combination of criteria, including the level of Critical Infrastructure Risk in the estate and an overall check of the regional breakdown (to make sure no regions were over or under-represented). This gave us the 21 projects identified to receive seed funding to kick start their schemes, ready for building in HIP2.

Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure in the NHS in 2018.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Information is not collected in a way that would enable an assessment of the number of women that underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedures. Information is not collected centrally on the number of premature births linked to incompetent cervix conditions. A count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with primary diagnosis of incompetent cervix, for female patients from 2016-17 to 2018-19 can be found in the following table. .Incompetent cervixIncompetent cervix in pregnancy2016-17953,2072017-18993,3872018-191213,484Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

Cervical Incompetence

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of women with incompetent cervix condition.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Information is not collected in a way that would enable an assessment of the number of women that underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedures. Information is not collected centrally on the number of premature births linked to incompetent cervix conditions. A count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with primary diagnosis of incompetent cervix, for female patients from 2016-17 to 2018-19 can be found in the following table.  Incompetent cervixIncompetent cervix in pregnancy2016-17953,2072017-18993,3872018-191213,484Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

Cervical Incompetence: Childbirth

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many premature births linked to incompetent cervix condition were recorded in 2018.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Information is not collected in a way that would enable an assessment of the number of women that underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedures. Information is not collected centrally on the number of premature births linked to incompetent cervix conditions. A count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with primary diagnosis of incompetent cervix, for female patients from 2016-17 to 2018-19 can be found in the following table.  Incompetent cervixIncompetent cervix in pregnancy2016-17953,2072017-18993,3872018-191213,484Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

Sepsis: Babies

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress (a) his Department and (b) the NHS has made since February 2017 on preventing and reducing neonatal sepsis.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The NHS England and NHS Improvement Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme works with every NHS maternity and neonatal service in England, to support a culture of continuous learning and better multi-professional working.The programme provides structured support for local teams to develop innovative plans for measurable improvements. This includes improving the early recognition and management of deterioration with suspected sepsis in mothers and babies, during or soon after birth.

General Practitioners: Recruitment

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) recruit and (b) retain GPs.

Jo Churchill: In January 2019 we announced in the NHS Long Term Plan that we are investing an extra £4.5 billion in primary and community care by 2024. This was followed by the five-year general practitioner (GP) contract, which will provide greater financial security and certainty for practices to plan ahead and will see billions of extra investment for improved access, expanded services at local practices, the development of primary care networks and longer appointments for patients who need them.NHS England and Health Education England (HEE) are working together with the profession to increase the GP workforce. This includes measures to boost recruitment, address the reasons why GPs are leaving the profession and encourage GPs to return to practice.In 2018, a record 3,473 doctors accepted a place on GP specialty training. Additionally, NHS England’s International GP Recruitment programme is bringing suitably qualified doctors from overseas to work in English general practice.We have a broad offer to support GPs to remain in the National Health Service including the GP Retention Scheme, the GP Retention Fund, the GP Health Service and the Releasing Time for Care Programme.It is encouraging to see as of June 2019, over 250 more doctors, and over 800 more nurses and other staff with direct patient care responsibilities working in general practice compared to June 2018.To address workload pressures and building on the success in expanding the wider workforce, the new five-year contract for general practice will see funding towards up to 20,000 extra staff working in GP practices, such as physiotherapists and pharmacists. This will help free up doctors to spend more time with the patients who need them.The interim People Plan published in June 2019 set out the actions the NHS will take now to secure the right staff, leadership and culture it needs to deliver the Long Term Plan and high quality, safe care. The final People Plan will set out a broader strategy for a sustainable general practice workforce, through both recruitment and retention programmes.

Brain: Injuries

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the number of cases where children who have experienced potentially irreversible brain injury have been able to receive ventilation at home after a tracheostomy in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: Information regarding the number of children with potentially irreversible brain injury who have been able to receive ventilation at home after a tracheostomy is not available. Decisions regarding the clinical appropriateness of home ventilation are a local matter and are made by clinicians in discussion with patients, their families and/or carers on a case by case basis.

Brain: Injuries

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the regional consistency of treatment where children who have experienced potentially irreversible brain injury are able to receive ventilation at home after a tracheotomy.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether financial considerations are involved when decisions are made by NHS trusts on the possibility of brain injured children receiving ventilation at home following a tracheostomy.

Caroline Dinenage: There are no current plans to make such an assessment.NHS England directly commissions services for the care of long-term ventilated children, up to 90 days post the fit for discharge date. This includes children who are ventilated through tracheostomy. Clinical commissioning groups are generally responsible for commissioning home ventilation services for children and decide, on an individual basis, what particular package of care should be put in place for the child in question, in conjunction with local services, education and housing as appropriate. A decision as to whether ventilation at home after a tracheotomy is appropriate for children who have experienced irreversible brain injury will be made on the basis of each individual case and is likely to involve difficult decision making around the efficacy of ongoing care and whether continuing treatment is in the child’s best interests.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in what capacity NHS Improvement gave advice to the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between June 2019 and September 2019 on the appropriateness of the Trust (a) discussing the possibility of merging services and provision between the Trust and the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) the potential for the East Lancashire Trust's Chief Executive, Kevin McGee, to operate as the permanent Chief Executive of both trusts.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consultation NHS Improvement had with hon. Members whose constituencies fall within the area served by the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on their discussions and advice to the Trust between June 2019 and September 2019 on (a) the possibility of merging services and provisions and (b) on allowing the East Lancashire Trust's Chief Executive Kevin McGee to operate as the permanent Chief Executive of both trusts.

Edward Argar: The Chair at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Chair at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust sought the views of NHS England and NHS Improvement on the possibility of merging services and provision between the two Trusts. Both Trusts were able to provide assurances that their proposals would bring benefits, to both organisations, and improve the care of patient populations in Blackpool and East Lancashire. On this basis NHS England and NHS Improvement were able to respond that they had no objections to the proposal. Final approvals will be needed from within their own organisations.NHS England and NHS Improvement has had no direct engagement with hon. Members whose constituencies fall within the area served by the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on their discussions and advice to the Trust between June 2019 and September 2019.The appointment of a Chief Executive in an NHS foundation trust is the responsibility of the trust’s non-executive directors, including the chair, with approval from the Trust’s council of governors.

Mental Health Services: Veterans

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the mental health of veterans.

Ms Nadine Dorries: In England, veterans access mainstream National Health Service provided mental health services as well as the bespoke veteran specific mental health services that NHS England and NHS Improvement have put in place.The Transition, Intervention and Liaison service launched in 2017, supports serving personnel who need additional mental health support as they are leaving the Armed Forces and veterans who have mental health issues. There are three elements to the service:- in-reach services for those in transition, leading up to, and leaving the Armed Forces;- services for veterans with complex presentation; and- general services for veterans.

Hospitals: Construction

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's News story, New hospital building programme, published on 29 September 2019, what criteria his Department used to determine which NHS trusts were eligible for funding under that programme to develop new hospitals.

Edward Argar: On 29 September, the Government announced the largest hospital building programme in a generation as part of a new Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP) that is backed by a long-term programme of investment. The plan’s new, strategic approach will ensure the health service will have world-class facilities for patients and staff for the long term.The HIP1 and HIP2 schemes were selected through the following process:NHS England and NHS Improvement conducted a strategic assessment of hospital estates and came up with a list of priority schemes. These were selected on the basis of age and/or where a combination of other metrics that indicated a high need for investment in the estate. This included the consideration of the high value scheme bids submitted by providers as part of previous sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) capital rounds, and other relevant previous representations by trusts and STPs. The other metrics being - Estates and facilities running costs; backlog costs; Critical Infrastructure Risk (a subset of the highest risk elements of backlog with a potential for significant impact e.g. fire safety); unused and functionally unsuitable space; and incidents having an impact on clinical services.Based on that, a small number of schemes were identified as being suitable to fully fund now, given their advanced level of readiness to deliver in near future. These are the 6 projects for HIP1.The remaining list of priority schemes was then further filtered based on a combination of criteria, including the level of Critical Infrastructure Risk in the estate and an overall check of the regional breakdown (to make sure no regions were over or under-represented), and engagements through NHS regional teams. This gave us the 21 projects identified to receive seed funding to kick start their schemes, ready for building in HIP2.HIP scheme selection was not specifically discussed at the NHS Property Board, which did not meet during the period when final decisions were made. However, the underlying principles and issues have been discussed previously by the NHS Property Board and members were involved in discussions that led to the final selection of schemes.Schemes will be required to submit business cases to provide the required standard assurance on the key features including patient benefits, value for money and commercial terms etc. A number of the six HIP1 schemes have submitted business cases to NHS Improvement previously but these will need to be developed further or revised to align with the current scope of their scheme. The Department is looking to speed up and streamline the business case process and approvals.

NHS Trusts: Mergers

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of services are retained in each hospital following mergers in NHS Trusts in England in each year since 2015.

Edward Argar: Powers under Section 56A and 56AA of the NHS Act 2006 enables a National Health Service foundation trust to merge with another foundation trust or NHS trust. NHS Improvement as the independent regulator does not collate the information requested.Every merger is different, but each will integrate the services of trusts to ensure the delivery of high-quality NHS services. A successful merger enables trusts to join together to gain the benefits of a larger organisation, such as releasing economies of scale; improving patient care and manage resources more effectively than either organisation can achieve alone.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for cervical screening test results.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hepatitis: Screening

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the detection of hepatitis B and C.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Cancer: Mortality Rates

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the mortality rate was for people under 75 years of age with cancer in each of the last three years.

Jo Churchill: The directly age-standardised cancer mortality rates per 100,000 population in England under 75 years of age for each of the three most recently published years are shown in the following table:YearMortality rate2015136.42016135.62017131.8

NHS: Drugs

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of medicines in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.The Department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

Department of Health and Social Care: Brexit

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the Government's worst case contingency plans related to his remit on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Edward Argar: Operation Yellowhammer is a cross-Government programme of work to ensure that the United Kingdom is prepared to deal with the potential reasonable worst-case scenario impacts of leaving the European Union without a deal. On 11 September, the Government published planning assumptions for exiting the European Union without a deal at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-humble-address-motion An updated version will be published in due course. These include the Department’s planning assumptions relating to the continuity of medicines and medicine supplies, the provision of healthcare to UK nationals within EU Member States, and the provision of adult social care after we have left the EU. The Department maintains robust operational plans to ensure the continuity of services from the National Health Service and wider health and social care system, regardless of circumstances, and will continue to do so.

Parkinson's Disease: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with health bodies on the findings of recent clinical trials for Terazosin and its potential effect of slowing down the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Montelukast: Side Effects

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of reports that doctors have been advised to warn asthma patients using the drug Montelukast of potential hallucinations and suicidal thoughts and other side-effects.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Montelukast is effective in the treatment of asthma in adults, adolescents and children aged six months and older who are not adequately controlled on their usual/routine asthma medication and who need additional therapy. Montelukast also helps to prevent the narrowing of airways triggered by exercise. The benefits of montelukast have been shown to outweigh the risks in adults and children.The very rare risk (up to 1 in 10,000 people) of neuropsychiatric reactions in association with montelukast treatment has been known for some time and information about adverse reactions including hallucinations and suicidal thinking and behaviour (suicidality) are already included in the product information for montelukast.In September the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency published an article in Drug Safety Update to remind prescribers of the very rare risk of neuropsychiatric reactions with use of montelukast. The article outlines the risks and advises healthcare professionals to evaluate carefully the risks and benefits of continuing treatment with montelukast if neuropsychiatric reactions occur. Healthcare professionals are reminded to report any suspected adverse drug reactions associated with montelukast to the Yellow Card Scheme.

Stargardt's Disease

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with Stargardt Disease in the last five years.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Glaucoma: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make the biodegradable implant that replaces eye drops for glaucoma available on the NHS.

Jo Churchill: Decisions about treatment should always be based on patients’ clinical needs. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are required to commission healthcare services that meet the needs of their local population. To achieve this, they must assess local need, determining priorities and strategies, and commission services on behalf of their local population; overseeing those contracts to ensure high-quality care is provided.National Health Service commissioners are legally required to fund treatments recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal and highly specialised technologies guidance.The future routine availability of any new or novel treatments would be subject to large scale clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the treatment approach and subsequent assessments of its cost effectiveness for routine use.

Bowel Cancer: Screening

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to improve diagnostic rates of the NHS bowel cancer test.

Jo Churchill: The Government committed in the NHS Long Term Plan published in January to modernise the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) to detect more cancers earlier. The plan will modernise the BCSP to detect more cancers earlier by lowering the starting age for bowel screening from 60 to 50.Further, the Faecal Immunochemical Test was rolled out in England in June 2019 following a UK National Screening Committee recommendation to replace the previously used Faecal Occult Blood test. This test is both more accurate and more acceptable so will contribute to saving many more lives from bowel cancer and, as an easier test for patients to use, is expected to improve take up rates by 7%, including among groups with low participation rates such as men, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and people in more deprived areas.In addition, we expect the Professor Sir Mike Richards’ Review of Screening, due to be published soon, to identify additional opportunities to improve the uptake of bowel cancer screening.

Lyme Disease

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the  (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of Lyme disease caused by tick bite.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gynaecology: Surveys

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the methodological adequacy of the October 2019 Outpatient Hysteroscopy Survey being conducted by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department currently has no plans to make an assessment of the methodological adequacy of the October 2019 Outpatient Hysteroscopy Survey.

Gynaecology: Surveys

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, (a) which patient groups were consulted and (b) what other patient involvement there was during the design of the October 2019 Outpatient Hysteroscopy Survey being conducted by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.

Caroline Dinenage: The Outpatient Hysteroscopy survey was organised by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy. Neither the Department nor NHS England were involved in designing this survey.

Asbestos: Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the most effective drugs for treating asbestos-related disease are available on the NHS.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups offer IVF and other fertility treatments to single women; and how much was spent on such treatment in the last three years.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England do not collect data on the number of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that offer in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or their expenditure on this specific treatment, although it is estimated that the National Health Services spends approximately £100 million a year on IVF.The level of provision of fertility treatment is decided by CCGs, taking into account the needs of their local population. CCGs have a legal duty to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and NHS England and NHS Improvement expects all those involved in commissioning fertility treatment services to be fully aware of their importance. In taking clinical decisions about fertility treatment and taking account of their public sector equality duty, CCGs should make assessments based on clinical infertility and not on relationship status

Children: Mental Health

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the number of children being given (a) therapy and (b) psychiatric medication for eco-anxiety; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce those levels.

Ms Nadine Dorries: No such assessment has been made.

Children: Social Media

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on children’s mental health of anonymous abuse and threats made on social media platforms.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on mental health of anonymous abuse or threats on online platforms such as Twitter.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We have not made such a specific assessment. However, in February the Chief Medical Officers published their independent systematic map of evidence on screen and social media use in children and young people, and recommended next steps and advice for parents and carers. They concluded that the published scientific research is currently insufficient to support evidence-based guidelines on screen time, but there is enough basis to warrant a precautionary approach and action by schools, government and technology companies. For children and young people, we know that there can be a link between very high levels of social media use and poorer mental health. Data from the Understanding Society survey indicates that children who spent more than three hours using social networking websites on a school day were twice as likely to report high or very high scores for mental ill-health than those who spent less than three hours on social media. However, it is unclear whether increased use causes poorer mental health or whether poorer mental health increases social media use.

NHS: Drugs

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reported customs delays at East Midlands airport on the delivery of category 1 medicines.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with representatives from the British Nuclear Medicine Society on the delivery of medical radioisotopes.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU. The department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plansFor any products that require air freight, such as some medical radioisotopes, the Department is continuing to work with all suppliers to ensure this is in place ahead of 31 October. The Department can confirm that all relevant suppliers now have plans in place or are already airfreighting into the United Kingdom. The Department is also undertaking joint operational testing, with key suppliers and other Government Departments (Border Delivery Group, HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force) at East Midlands airport to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods. This testing includes medical radioisotopes. The Department is in active communication with the British Nuclear Medicine Society as well as with the Royal College of Radiologists and the UK Radiopharmacy Group.

NHS: Procurement

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the cost of procuring equipment in the NHS.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.The sustainability of the National Health Service is an absolute priority for the Government. We recognise that suppliers may incur additional storage costs for stockpiling medicines or switching to air freight as part of preparations for a potential ‘no deal’ EU exit. We have been working closely with industry to minimise costs and support medical suppliers taking part in the contingency programme.We are also clear that in any negotiations on future trade agreements, we could not agree to any proposals on pricing or access that would put NHS finances at risk or reduce clinician and patient choice.

Bedford Hospital: Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the planned merger of Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable Hospital, if he will maintain the current level of services at Bedford Hospital.

Edward Argar: Powers under Section 56A and 56AA of the NHS Act 2006 enables a National Health Service foundation trust to merge with another foundation trust or NHS trust. The trusts are required to make a joint application to NHS Improvement for any merger to go ahead. Where a merger involves an NHS trust, this must also be supported by the Secretary of State.It will be for NHS Improvement as the independent regulator to be assured that the integration of services within the planned merger of Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable Hospital ensures the delivery of high-quality NHS services.

Mental Illness

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in managing the increase in mental ill health.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Public Health England (PHE) provides a variety of resources to support local authorities in managing the increase in mental ill health.PHE also provides local government with data on mental health to local authority level via our National Mental Health Intelligence Service. This can be viewed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-data-and-analysis-a-guide-for-health-professionalsA dedicated profiling tool on our PHE fingertips platform is available at the following link:http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile-group/mental-health/PHE published a suite of evidence for local areas and local government in August 2017 at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevention-concordat-for-better-mental-health-consensus-statementThis includes work on Commissioning Cost Effective Interventions at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-services-cost-effective-commissioningThese resources give local authorities the evidence they need to take action for mental health promotion and prevention. PHE provides support to local areas through its Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health and through the work of the nine PHE local centres who support local authorities in their local areas. To date, over 70 national organisations and 70 local authorities have signed up to the Prevention Concordat programme. The target is to achieve full sign up of all local areas by the end of 2020/21. This work helps support local government in their strategic planning and delivery of mental health work as part of their overall work on improving the health and wellbeing of their local population.On 7 October 2019, PHE also launched a new national resource for the public to help them look after their own mental health and support others, Every Mind Matters. This can be viewed at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ We are supporting the recruitment of mental health social workers in local authorities and the NHS through the Think Ahead initiative. In addition, the New Roles in mental health social work group, led by Health Education England and Skills for Care, is working to develop the future social work and social care workforce with local authorities.NHS England has developed community mental health services framework which aims to deliver greater integration with other services that impact on mental health and wellbeing outcomes - including primary care, general practitioners, social care, education, housing and third sector services. This can be viewed at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-community-mental-health-framework-for-adults-and-older-adults/

Vasa Praevia

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of cases of Vasa Praevia in expectant mothers in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: A count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a primary diagnosis or all diagnoses of labour and delivery complicated by vasa praevia, for 2018/19 - activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector can be found in the following table. .FCEsPrimary diagnosis109All Diagnoses194Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital

Vasa Praevia: Screening

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce routine screening in pregnancy for Vasa Praevia.

Caroline Dinenage: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee in 2017 considered an evidence review of screening for Vasa Praevia (VP). The review did not find sufficient evidence to support a change in the overall recommendation for VP screening. The 2017 review can be seen at the following link:https://legacyscreening.phe.org.uk/vasapraevia

Breast Cancer: Screening

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending provision of genetic testing to all people diagnosed with breast cancer.

Jo Churchill: The NHS Long Term Plan sets out the ambition to extend the use of molecular diagnostics and, over the next 10 years, to routinely offer genomic testing to all people with cancer for whom it would be of clinical benefit.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust: Experian

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of individuals being subject to credit checking by Experian at Greenwich and Lewisham NHS trust.

Edward Argar: No individuals have been subject to credit checking by Experian at Greenwich and Lewisham NHS Trust. Rather the Trust has conducted checks on the residency status of patients as they are required to do by law.Credit checking describes accessing someone’s credit history for the purpose of assessing their suitability for credit. A person’s credit history is the factual record of credit they have used over the last six years.The residency check, on the other hand, looks at many sources to see whether someone has a digital footprint in the United Kingdom as a proxy for whether they are likely to be resident. A residency check has no impact on credit scores or reports but simply cross-references the information provided with Experian’s existing records, to confirm that further enquires may be required by the Trust to establish a person’s eligibility to NHS funded care.

Health Professions: Pay

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) allied healthcare professions in the NHS receive an annual salary of less than £30,000.

Edward Argar: The Department does not hold the data in the format requested and due to time constraints was unable to obtain data.

Hospital Wards: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of NHS trusts' compliance with NHS Improvement guidance on safe staffing levels for children and young people’s wards.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We are committed to ensuring that every trust has the support it requires, including the guidance and tools, to determine the right level and skill mix of staff at the right time. There has been no specific assessment of National Health Service trusts' compliance with NHS Improvement guidance on safe staffing levels for children and young people’s wards.However, systematic reviews of all relevant children’s services consider a broad range of aspects of care and include National Quality Board guidance on safe staffing. Any matters pertaining to workforce as a result of these reviews would be referred to the NHS England and NHS Improvement nursing clinical workforce team, who would then provide targeted support.In addition, NHS trusts are required to specify the degree of their compliance with Developing Workforce Safeguards, which explains the principles behind safe staffing.Developing Workforce Safeguards can be accessed via the following link:https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/developing-workforce-safeguards/ In addition, appropriate staffing levels are a core element of the Care Quality Commission’s registration regime, which is underpinned by legislation. CQC inspectors assess against the key lines of enquiry on safe staffing in their framework.

Health Services: British Nationals Abroad

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his department has issued to British citizens living in the EU on how to access heathcare after the UK leaves the EU.

Edward Argar: Everyone living in the European Union is strongly encouraged to think about their own healthcare needs and circumstances and consider the steps they need to take to be assured of continuing healthcare coverage.I laid a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1832) on 26 September 2019, which sets out the current status of arrangements with Member States and outlines in detail the support which the UK Government will provide should the United Kingdom leave the EU without a deal.The Government has produced detailed advice for each country which can be accessed at the following link:www.gov.uk/uk-nationals-living-euWe will provide more information as the situation develops so people are clear on what they will need in each country. People can also sign up to email alerts to check these country guides regularly as the situation may change as the UK gets closer to leaving the EU.The NHS Business Services Authority has sent a letter to S1 holders living in EU and European Free Trade Association Member States, encouraging individuals to consider their circumstances and options and to take the necessary steps to ensure they have appropriate coverage in place. A copy of the letter is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-steps-to-protect-healthcare-access-for-uk-nationals-living-in-the-eu-after-31-october

Cancer: Screening

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on testing timeframes of changes being made to the provision of molecular pathology testing in cancer care and treatment.

Jo Churchill: NHS England is mobilising the Genomic Medicine Service which brings together existing clinical genetics services and the new genomic laboratory infrastructure. By consolidating genomic testing services into seven Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), the National Health Service is able to operate more efficiently using cutting-edge high throughput technology and supporting make equitable access. The new service will enable additional genomic information to inform treatment and enable turnaround times to be kept to a minimum.The turnaround times which are set out in the GLH service specification fall within the existing 62 day standard for receiving first treatment for cancer.

Doctors: Surrey

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many doctors there were in hospitals in Surrey in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Argar: NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), but not staff working in primary care, local authorities or other providers.Data is held by organisation not place of work. Individuals may work on more than one site within a trust.As at June 2019, the latest available data, there were over 1,200 full time equivalent doctors at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, full time equivalent.

General Practitioners: Rural Areas

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on recruiting additional GPs in rural locations.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

General Practitioners: Surrey

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to maintain the level of out-of-hours GP cover in Surrey.

Jo Churchill: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the EHIC system will be continued or replaced after the UK leaves the EU.

Edward Argar: The United Kingdom Government has proposed to all Member States that we should maintain existing reciprocal healthcare arrangements, including the European Healthcare Insurance Card scheme, until 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal.   I laid a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1832) on 26 September 2019, setting out the Department’s position on ‘no deal’ reciprocal healthcare arrangements, and updated information has been published on GOV.UK and NHS.UK on the situation for each Member State, including what arrangements have been put in place. These pages will be kept updated as further assurances from Member States are received. The UK will consider the long-term arrangements for reciprocal healthcare once we have left the EU.

Emigration: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to continue funding the Family Restoration Fund for former child migrants following the end of the current scheme.

Caroline Dinenage: The future arrangements for the family restoration fund will be considered as part of Departmental business planning.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Boris Johnson: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, officials and others.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Fraud

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the legal basis is for her Department to ask claimants who are victims of third-party universal credit fraud to attend an interview under caution at a Jobcentre rather than provide a witness statement.

Guy Opperman: Holding answer received on 30 September 2019



The new process for advances and identification introduced on the 18 September 2019 mean that the level of UC advances fraud will be mitigated. Where an individual is a victim of fraud and received no money personally, no claim will be made against them. However, it is often not possible to ascertain the facts without an Interview Under Caution. The powers for an Interview Under Caution are under the Social Security Administration Act 1992, Part VI, governs this process and has been followed by successive governments of different political persuasions. DWP will ask, and allow the individual to have the opportunity to respond to any evidence in a voluntary Interview Under Caution. DWP follows the guidance laid down in the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Code C 2014) to afford the claimant all appropriate protection in law.

Children: Disadvantaged

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that data held by her Department that would qualify a person's child for free school meals also captures (a) how many children that person is the main carer of and b) the school year of each qualifying child.

Will Quince: The Department provides colleagues at the Department for Education (DfE) projections of the Universal Credit caseload, split by the earnings of the household and number of children in each household by age. This enables DfE to estimate how many households will be eligible for Free School Meals in the future.

Access to Work Programme

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training on the Access to Work scheme is provided to work coaches or advisors who support disabled young people receiving employment and support allowance.

Justin Tomlinson: Work Coaches are supported by Disability Employment Advisers (DEA’s) who provide coaching and mentoring to Work Coaches on disability issues. Technical learning for DEA’s includes a workshop on Provision and Support for claimants with a disability, this learning covers the Access to Work Scheme. The topic of the Access to Work scheme is covered in a number of learning products for Access to Work advisors who support applicants, some of whom may be in receipt of ESA, through the Access to Work process. This learning includes an Access to Work Workshop. There is also an Access to Work Disability Awareness Workbook which details how Access to Work can help a disabled person. In addition, each member of staff in the DWP, including work coaches, has regular performance conversations with their line manager. These conversations include identifying any learning needs particular to their role, including Access to Work if appropriate.

Job Centres: Closures

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job centres have closed in each constituency in each year between 2010 and the most recent year for which figures are available.

Mims Davies: Staff and service delivery have, where possible, been relocated to alternative DWP buildings or partner organisation’s buildings in order to maintain delivery of services to customers. Since 1st February 2010 through to 3rd October 2019, 219 buildings through which Jobcentre Plus services were delivered have been closed. On occasions jobcentres were closed to merge with other, bigger jobcentres or to accommodate co-location needs. Our DWP estate announcement on 5 July 2017 confirmed that some smaller jobcentres would merge with larger ones, and others would be co-located in local government premises. Merging our staff and services from some smaller or underutilised jobcentres, into larger jobcentres nearby, makes better use of space and reduces costs to the taxpayer while still maintaining the same excellent level of customer service. This has enabled the Department to offer a more efficient service, while delivering good value for the taxpayer. We are committed to retaining a Jobcentre Plus network and continuing to serve throughout GB to make sure they can continue to access the Jobcentre Plus services they need.

Department for Work and Pensions: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Mims Davies: There were no meetings between the Secretary of State and her Departments Chief Scientific Officer from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Department for Work and Pensions: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of her Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Mims Davies: Details of Ministers’ meetings are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.There are no recorded departmental meetings or call logs between Mr Crispin Odey and Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Advisory Services

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to permit implied consent for benefit advisers, as well as Members of Parliament, as recommended by the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Will Quince: Universal Credit operates in a fundamentally different way to any other benefit, The Universal Credit system is structured around an online personal account which contains all the information relevant to the claim. This includes their bank account details, savings, capital, medical history, family relationships and the address and other information about their landlord and employer. We need to ensure a high level of security and protection to combat those unscrupulous individuals and organisations who try to access the information we hold and seek to impersonate genuine advisers. We need to take all reasonable steps to protect the position of claimants and their data. The Department is continuing to work with SSAC and third party organisations to understand how Universal Credit can support organisations who help our claimants. This activity will include working with claimants and their representatives to ensure the process works effectively for vulnerable claimants to access the service.

Department for Work and Pensions: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely. The Jain Community are currently not members of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Operational Stakeholder Engagement Forum. The forum meets quarterly and enables stakeholders and representatives to shape operational delivery, build positive relationships and communicate key messages, such as national departmental events. The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so. The Jain Community would be very welcome to join the departmental forum.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) delays and (b) errors in universal credit awards as a result of (ii) inaccurate in Real Time Information and (iii) differences in the operating systems used by (A) her Department and (B) HMRC; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince: The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live in 2013 to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information (RTI) system. HMRC have updated their guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September to Question 290673 on Universal Credit, whether a reduction in the monthly repayments of a court fine from 40 per cent to a lower amount will return to the 40 per cent rate in the following month if a person has no other deductions attached to a universal credit claim.

Will Quince: Our deductions policy strikes a fair balance between a claimant’s need to meet their obligations and a claimant’s ability to ensure they can meet their day-to-day needs. From October 2019, deductions will be capped at 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance down from 40% to better achieve this balance. In the scenario outlined, if a person has no other deductions, the most that would be deducted for a court fine in the following assessment period is £108.35. This is because the maximum deduction for court fines is based on a fixed figure in regulations rather than a percentage. If the £108.35 figure were more than 30% of the claimant’s standard allowance, the deduction would be reduced to 5% of the standard allowance, ensuring the 30% cap was not exceeded. The policy was designed to deduct either the minimum or maximum set out in regulations and avoid inconsistencies that may arise if discretion was to be exercised for each claimant’s deduction.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of coordinating assessments for claimants applying for universal credit and personal independence payments.

Justin Tomlinson: In responses to the 2016 Improving Lives: Work, Health and Disability Green Paper consultation and through several other forums, stakeholders have raised concerns about the feeling of duplication across the current assessment processes. We have therefore been exploring options to reduce this, and make improvements to the customer experience. By testing the feasibility of a single assessment for Employment and Support Allowance/Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment we can seek to understand if it will improve the assessment process for our customers, and ensure that it delivers high quality and accurate outcomes. The study is being informed by existing evidence and we have been gathering views and insight from key stakeholders to understand the issues around implementing this. I do consider there are merits and we announced in March 2019 that we have launched the Health Transformation Programme to deliver a new integrated assessment service across all health and disability benefits. This will make the assessment process simpler, quicker, more user-friendly and more joined-up whichever benefit people are claiming. This integrated service will still be taking applications to individual benefits on a separate basis.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost was to her Department of personal independence payment appeals which over-turned the decision of her Department over the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Welfare Assistance Schemes: Families and Young People

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to local authorities to ensure the provision of (a) local welfare assistance and (b) other services to (i) families and (ii) young people in crisis.

Will Quince: The Welfare Reform Act 2012 abolished Social Fund Crisis Loans and Community Grants from April 2013. The funding was passed over to local authorities in England and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales on a non-ringfenced basis, and with no statutory duties attached. DWP provides a network of around 300 specialised work coaches for the cross government Troubled Families Programme. These Troubled Families Employment Advisers (TFEAs) support families across all local authority areas in England, providing tailored, one to one employment and welfare support. TFEAs also upskill local authorities and partners on employment matters. DWP is working with all top tier local authorities in England to help them to address parental conflict, which can harm children’s outcomes. 98% of local authorities have taken up our offer of training for frontline practitioners and support for strategic leaders, to increase local capability in addressing parental conflict.

Universal Credit: Scotland

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the time taken for universal credit payments to be made to claimants on trends in the level of food bank use in Scotland.

Will Quince: The Department does not keep official statistics on food bank use, so no such assessment has been completed. Some food aid providers produce statistics on the number of food parcels distributed, but the Government has no plans to require individual food banks to keep records as this would place a significant burden on charitable and voluntary organisations. We have listened to feedback on how we can improve Universal Credit to support our claimants and acted quickly, making improvements such as extending advances, removing waiting days, and introducing housing benefit run on. These changes are giving support to vulnerable people who need it most, whilst at the same time helping people get into work faster. Furthermore, in Scotland, the Department delivers Universal Credit Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government, providing the option of Universal Credit being paid twice a month rather than monthly, and having Universal Credit housing element being paid directly to landlords.

Pension Credit

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that information relating to Pension Credit eligibility is accessible to people who are classed as being digitally excluded.

Guy Opperman: There are over 1.6 million people already claiming £5.4 billion in Pension Credit but the Government wants to ensure that all pensioners eligible can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled. The DWP uses a wide range of channels, in addition to www.gov.uk, to communicate information about benefits to potential claimants. We target activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension, Attendance Allowance or when they report a change in their circumstances which could result in them becoming eligible for Pension Credit. Staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres as well as DWP visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits including Pension Credit either to individuals or community groups. Staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit also provide information about Pension Credit For general enquiries about Pension Credit, potential customers can telephone the freephone Pension Service helpline on 08007310469 and the easiest way to make a claim is via the freephone claim line 0800991234. Anyone wishing to make a claim by post can request a paper application form.The Government wants to make sure that all older people receive the support they are entitled to and we therefore also welcome and encourage initiatives to promote take up of Pension Credit by national and local organisations who may often be the first place people turn to for information and help.

Occupational Pensions: Erith and Thamesmead

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Erith and Thamesmead constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.

Guy Opperman: Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012. The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates. I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019: In the Erith and Thamesmead constituency, since 2012, approximately 5,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,180 employers have met their duties. Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf. The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests

Occupational Pensions: Northampton South

Andrew Lewer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Northampton South constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.

Guy Opperman: Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012. The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates. I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019: In the Northampton South constituency, since 2012, approximately 39,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 2,300 employers have met their duties. Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf. The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests

Universal Credit

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with social landlords on rent arrears caused by the time between a claimant’s universal credit being paid and the housing costs being sent to the landlord via APA on the next bulk payment run.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to introduce any-day payment of housing costs via APA to avoid delays between the tenant’s universal credit payment date and the next bulk payment of housing costs to landlords.

Will Quince: Initial analytical work we have carried out with a single housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, supporting research carried out by the National Federation of ALMOs which shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears. It also shows that arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of housing providers. It will be published when completed.The Department encourages all Universal Credit claimants to actively consider how best to manage their personal budget which includes making their own rent payments to landlords, with additional advice and support available from work coaches and case managers where needed. We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including landlords, to ensure we understand concerns which helps us to design improvements to Universal Credit. Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs), such as a managed payment to landlord (MPTL), are available to enable the housing costs element to be paid directly to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments or is in rent arrears. APAs will only be considered where a lack of financial capability poses a risk to the claimant, or their family, and the decision to implement one is assessed on a case by case basis. The Department issues a schedule of payments to Social Rented Sector (SRS) landlords, and our Third Party Creditor system - currently used to pay SRS landlords - uses a 28-day payment cycle. We are currently working with a range of landlords to design, develop and test a better services with the intention of having a solution in place by the end of this year.

Occupational Pensions: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Shipley constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.

Guy Opperman: Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012. The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates. I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019: In the Shipley constituency, since 2012, approximately 9,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,590 employers have met their duties. Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf.https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requestsThe Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink:https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the decision to abolish the Discretionary Social Fund and replace it with local welfare assistance schemes has had on the ability of people experiencing a financial crisis to access monetary support.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has departmental responsibility for local welfare assistance schemes.

Will Quince: Local welfare assistance is an umbrella term used describe local authority provision for people who are in need of urgent help. Local authorities’ abilities to act in this area are provided under various powers, for example, section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000 enables local authorities to provide financial assistance to any individual. Since the reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 which abolished Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants, the Local Government Financial Settlement has included a notional amount relating to local welfare provision in each upper-tier and unitary authority’s general grant. The settlement for 2015-16 set this amount at £129.6 million for England in each year until 2019/20. The Department for Work and Pension's (DWP) 2014 review found that local authorities delivered support more effectively than the previous provision and that councils are best placed to decide how to target flexible help to support local welfare needs. The Government has no further plans to review provision.

Child Maintenance Service

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service holds data on the number of active cases managed by that service by Parliamentary constituency.

Mims Davies: Figures on number of active cases managed by the Child Maintenance Service broken down by Parliamentary constituency are intended for future publication. The Department currently publishes figures which show geographical breakdowns to Local Authority level of the main figures from the Child Maintenance Service statistics to June 2019. These can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-june-2019-experimental

Thomas Cook: Insolvency

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to provide pension protection for Thomas Cook staff.

Guy Opperman: Thomas Cook schemes provide both Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit pensions. Defined Contribution pensions are operated independently of Thomas Cook, with funds held separately. Pension pots will not be affected and will continue to be invested on behalf of the members. If there are unpaid pension contributions the Insolvency Service can make payments out of the National Insurance Fund within specified limits. The Thomas Cook Defined Benefit pension schemes are protected by the Pension Protection Fund. These schemes are well funded and are able to continue to paying out pensions to their members. The Pension Protection Fund will assess whether it will need to take responsibility for payments in the future. Payments cannot be lower than the level of Pension Protection Fund compensation – which is 100% of pension for those currently above the scheme retirement age, and 90% subject to a cap for those who are younger, but this may be higher. The trustees of the Defined Benefit pension schemes are in touch with members. The Pension Protection Fund has provided contact details if members have questions.

Access to Work Programme

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Access to Work applications were (a) made and (b) successful in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland in (A) 2016-17, (B) 2017-18 and (B) 2018-19.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time was for support to provided to successful applications for Access to Work in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18 and (iii) 2018-19.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the longest time period was for a successful applicant for Access to Work support waited for before that support was put in place in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in 2018-19.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested about number of applications and length of time between application and receiving support is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, in regard to number of successful applications, the published Access to Work statistics include how many applications resulted in provision being approved broken down by financial year and various customer characteristics including region. Please see Table 3 of the Access to Work statistics.The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2019

Children: Day Care

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Scottish Government has requested that her Department administer the new Scottish child payment and; and what estimate she has made of the cost of administering that payment.

Mims Davies: The Scottish Child Payment will be administered by Social Security Scotland. The Department will assist the Scottish Government where this is feasible. The cost of administration will fall to the Scottish Government.

State Retirement Pensions

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the 2016 changes to the state pension system on the household income of people who have been recently bereaved.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the savings accrued to the public purse by the 2016 changes to the state pension system, specifically in relation to the inheritance of spouses’ state pension.

Guy Opperman: The Government published an impact assessment ‘New State pension: impact on an individual's pension entitlement longer term effects’ in January 2016. This included impacts on derived entitlement to the State Pension. The estimates show around 2 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women reaching State Pension age between 2016-2020 were expected to receive less State Pension due to the withdrawal of derived entitlement. The proportion affected falls over the first two decades of the new State Pension. Further information on the impact of new State Pension reform on derived entitlement is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491845/impact-of-new-state-pension-longer-term-reserach.pdf. Information on the overall costs of the new State Pension (formerly the Single Tier) is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311316/pensions-act-ia-annex-a-single-tier-state-pension.pdf The cost estimates of the new State Pension do not provide a specific breakdown of savings from the inheritance of spouses’ State Pension. The new State Pension was introduced for people reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards to provide a clearer, simpler and sustainable system for the future and is based on an individual’s own National Insurance record. This both reflects changes in society where individuals are able to build a State Pension in their own right and a wider crediting regime that rewards periods of caring when people are away from the labour market. There is transitional protection of the old derived basic State Pension for women whose own contribution history was affected by taking the option to pay reduced-rate National Insurance contributions. Transitional arrangements also enable widowed people in certain circumstances to inherit all, or part, of the additional State Pension or Graduated Retirement Benefit they could have inherited under the old State Pension system. A step-by-step guide to the changes to the rules on deriving and inheriting State Pension is available on the Government website at www.gov.uk using the search term 'state pension through partner'. The transitional arrangements for the new State Pension have been designed to be to fair to the greatest number of people possible and to ensure that the vast majority of people have at least the full amount of new State Pension as quickly possible.The new State Pension will benefit many women, carers and self-employed people, who historically often did less well under previous systems. For example, over three million women stand to receive an average of £550 more per year by 2030 as a result of the recent reforms. In addition, we are committed to the triple lock for the duration of this Parliament. In April 2019, full amounts of the basic and new State Pensions increased by 2.6%, in line with average earnings growth. The full yearly rate of the basic State Pension is worth over £1,600 more in cash terms 2019/20 than it was in 2010. Furthermore, Pension Credit provides a top up means-tested benefit for pensioners to protect those who are most in need.

Occupational Pensions: Dunfermline and West Fife

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution in the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Guy Opperman: Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012. The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates. I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019: In the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency, since 2012, approximately 7,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,310 employers have met their duties. Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf. The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests

Occupational Pensions: Carshalton and Wallington

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution in Carshalton and Wallington constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Guy Opperman: Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012. The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates. I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019: In the Carshalton and Wallington constituency, since 2012, approximately 11,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,530 employers have met their duties. Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf. The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests

Plumbing and Mechanical Services (UK) Industry Pension Scheme

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the effect of Section 75 debt notification letters issued from the Plumbing and Mechanical Services (UK) Industry Pension multi-employer pension scheme on (a) the financial viability of that scheme, (b) people in that scheme and (c) the value of the debt requests; and if she will make a statement.

Guy Opperman: The issue of Section 75 debt notices and estimates are a private matter between the scheme trustee and employers. It is the role of the scheme trustee to ensure that the pension scheme is run properly and that members’ benefits are secure. DWP’s 2017 Green Paper “security-and-sustainability-in-defined-benefit-pension-schemes” assessed changing the way employer debts are calculated and the impact this would have on members’ benefit security and remaining employers. This assessment showed any changes would weaken members’ benefit security, whilst placing significant additional costs on employers who would remain in the scheme. It also showed that excluding orphan liabilities from employer debt calculations would not necessarily resolve the issues some employers face with complying with their employer debt obligations.

Universal Credit

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the cost of increasing the child element of the universal credit payment by (a) £10 a week and (b) 70 per cent; and how many children would be taken out of poverty as a result of each.

Will Quince: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the most recent annual estimate is of the cost of ending the two child limit for universal credit between now and 2033/34.

Will Quince: No assessment has been made up to 2033/34, however we estimate that the cost of ending this policy to be around £5bn up to 23/24. The Government’s view is that providing support for a maximum of two children or qualifying young persons in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit ensures fairness between claimants on the one hand and, on the other, those taxpayers who support themselves solely through work. Where they are able to, Individuals should consider whether they are financially prepared to support a new child without relying on benefits. We recognise that some claimants are not able to make the same choices about the number of children in their family, which is why exceptions have been put in place to protect certain groups. On migration to Universal Credit families’ existing entitlement will be protected, so long as they remain responsible for the same children and entitled to benefit.

Members: Correspondence

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to respond to the letter of 2 September 2019 from the hon. member for Glasgow Central addressed to the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work on the issue of work at height.

Justin Tomlinson: The Minister for Work and Pensions (Lords) responded to the hon. member on Tuesday 8 October 2019.

Personal Independence Payment: Epilepsy

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a primary condition of epilepsy who receive personal independence payments that are in receipt of the mobility component.

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a primary condition of epilepsy receiving personal independence payments (PIP) are in receipt of the PIP daily living component.

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a primary condition of epilepsy receiving personal independence payments (PIP) are in receipt of both the mobility and daily living components of PIP.

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving personal independence payments are in receipt of the PIP mobility component.

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving personal independence payments are in receipt of the PIP daily living component.

Justin Tomlinson: The latest available data on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims in payment which can be split by the Daily Living and Mobility component a claimant is receiving and by their main disabling condition can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Employment: Autism

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Disabled People of 2 July 2019, Official Report column 1180, what the outcome is of his discussions with the Office for National Statistics on including the numbers of autistic people in work as part of the labour force survey.

Justin Tomlinson: The Office for National Statistics is currently testing the addition of a measure of autism to the Labour Force Survey. Should the testing be successful, it is anticipated that it will be added to the survey in early 2020. This will give us a better understanding of the employment status for many autistic people of working age.

Personal Independence Payment

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving personal independence payments are in receipt of both the mobility and daily living components.

Justin Tomlinson: The latest available data on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims in payment which can be split by the Daily Living and Mobility components a claimant is receiving can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/.Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Employment and Support Allowance and  Jobseeker's Allowance

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Jobcentre staff receive training to identify when a new claimant would be entitled to new-style employment and support allowance or new-style jobseeker's allowance.

Justin Tomlinson: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Universal Credit

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether universal credit claimants who are eligible for (a) new style employment and support allowance and (b) new style jobseeker's allowance who would receive more money from one of those benefits than from universal credit are able to have their award backdated to when they made their claim.

Justin Tomlinson: Universal Credit replaces six benefits with one, to simplify the system and make work pay. As a result, people claiming Universal Credit move into work faster, stay in work longer and spend more time looking to increase their earnings. Universal Credit also provides more help with childcare costs, a dedicated Work Coach and scraps the 16, 24 and 30 hour ‘cliff edges’. Under the legacy system £2.4 billion of welfare benefits did not get paid at all because claimants could not navigate the complexity of the system. Universal Credit is putting this right, ensuring this money goes to 700,000 claimants who need it. Claims may be backdated, by up to one calendar month, in limited circumstances for vulnerable claimants who may be delayed in claiming Universal Credit through no fault of their own. Claims may also be backdated in specific circumstances when a couple separates to ensure that there is no gap in entitlement between the couple claim and the new claim made by a single claimant. For new style Employment and Support Allowance, a claimant has three months following the qualifying date to claim. The Department provides benefit eligibility information to help people make decisions surrounding benefits to which they may be entitled, along with details about how to claim them. This is available through Jobcentre Plus offices and via the GOV.UK website.

Occupational Pensions: Newport West

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution in Newport West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Guy Opperman: Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012. The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates. I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019: In the Newport West constituency, since 2012, approximately 11,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,400 employers have met their duties. Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf. The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink:https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests.

Home Office

Disclosure and Barring Service

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 1 of the letter from the Cabinet Secretary of 10 April 2019 to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on Disclosure and Barring Service: progress review, if he will place in the Library, copies of the independence assurance reviews of the programme conducted in February 2014 and June 2014.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 1 of the letter from the Cabinet Secretary of 10 April 2019 to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on Disclosure and Barring Service: progress review, if he will place in the Library, copies of the analysis provided by his Department's officials.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 2 of the letter from the Cabinet Secretary of 10 April 2019 to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on Disclosure and Barring Service: progress review, what estimate he has made of the increased cost to deliver modernisation as a result of the revision of the Full Business Case.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

South Wales Police: Recruitment

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Prime Minister's  statement of 24 July 2019, how many of the 20,000 new police officers will be recruited by South Wales Police.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 24 July 2019, how many of the 20,000 new police officers will be recruited by North Wales Police.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 24 July 2019, how many of the 20,000 new police officers will be recruited by Dyfed-Powys Police.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 24 July 2019, how many of the 20,000 new police officers will be recruited by Gwent Police.

Kit Malthouse: The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have announced the recruitment of 20,000 extra officers over the next three years. This demonstrates our commitment to supporting the police and giving them extra resource to protect the public and keep us all safe.The allocation of officers across England and Wales is yet to be confirmed. We are working closely with police leader to put in place the plans and systems to deliver on this commitment. Police budgets and force level funding are set out in the usual way at the provisional police settlement.

Police: Wales

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of additional police officers required in (a) Newport West and (b) Wales to reduce the level of crime and keep communities safe.

Kit Malthouse: The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have announced the recruitment of 20,000 extra officers over the next three years. This demonstrates our commitment to supporting the police and giving them extra resource to protect the public and keep us all safe.The allocation of officers across England and Wales is yet to be confirmed. We are working closely with police leaders to put in place the plans and systems to deliver on this commitment. Police budgets and force level funding will be set out in the usual way at the provisional police settlement.

Crimes of Violence: Young People

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the recommendations from the Home Affairs Select Committee in its report entitled Serious violence, HC 1016, published 31 July 2019, whether she plans to allocate dedicated police officers for schools located in areas with higher risk of youth violence.

Kit Malthouse: The Government is committed to tackling serious violence and we are supporting the police to tackle these crimes. Police funding will increase by £1 billion this year, including council tax and the new £100 million Serious Violence Fund, which will support action in the most affected areas. The Prime Minister and Home Secretary also announced plans to recruit an additional 20,000 officers over the next three years.Decisions on the deployment of individual officers are an operational matter for Chief Constables. In the Serious Violence Strategy, we recognise the benefits of building positive relationships between schools and police across a range of crime issues.

Police: Scotland

John Lamont: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what effect funding 20,000 additional police officers will have on the Scottish Government's block grant.

Kit Malthouse: Any increase in funding to the police forces of England and Wales would generate a ‘Barnett consequential’ uplift to the Block Grants to the Scottish Government. It would be a matter for the Scottish Government to determine how the additional resources would be allocated.

Orgreave

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to hold a public inquiry into the police operation at Orgreave on 18 June 1984.

Kit Malthouse: There are no plans to review the Government’s decision of 31 October 2016 not to establish a public inquiry into the policing of the events at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984.

Offences against Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish an update to the Tackling child sexual exploitation: progress report published on 16 February 2017.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Offences against Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has (a) geographically mapped the prevalence of different methodologies for perpetrating child sexual abuse in the UK as set out in the National Crime Agency’s National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018 and (b) discrete plans for tackling each such methodology of perpetration.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will estimate the number of people posing a sexual threat to children (a) online and (b) offline in the UK.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of money allocated from the public purse for the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation was spent on disrupting perpetrators in the most recent period for which such information is available.

Victoria Atkins: There are over 58,000 Registered Sex Offenders in the UK. A conservative estimate of the National Crime Agency (NCA) is that around 80,000 people in the UK present some kind of sexual threat to children online, while the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse estimates that 15% of girls and 5% of boys experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16.In February 2017, the Government published its Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Progress Report and announced a £40m package of measures to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking, and to crack down on offenders. In September 2018, the Government announced an additional £21.5m investment in law enforcement to reduce the volume of offending and pursue the most hardened and dangerous abusers.The Government has made significant progress in tackling child sexual exploitation. We have prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat to empower law enforcement to tackle these crimes, developed world-leading technology such as the child abuse image database (CAID) to tackle online child sexual abuse, and built the capabilities of our law enforcement and intelligence partners to bring the highest-harm offenders to justice.The Government continue to engage closely with a range of partners including law enforcement, charities and academics to build our understanding of the evolving threat in order to do all we can to protect children and stop offenders.In 2017 the government established the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse with £7.5 million of funding. Headed by Barnardo’s, the centre works to improve our understanding of the scale and nature of pathways into child sexual offending and what works to prevent and tackle it, including developing a typology of child sexual offending which will support a more targeted response by the police and other agencies.We will publish a national strategy setting out how we will galvanise local, national and international efforts to prevent, tackle and respond to all forms of Child Sexual Abuse, which will be supported by the announcement on 4 September 2019 of an additional £30 million to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation and abuse. Increasing funding for cutting-edge technology and the best intelligence and law enforcement capabilities will enable police officers to continue to target the worst and most sophisticated offenders.

Police Federation of England and Wales

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she next plans to meet with the Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Secretary has regular meetings with the National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales to discuss a range of issues of relevance to the Federation and its members. The last such meeting took place in August 2019. In the interests of Government transparency and accountability details of Ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on GOV.UK.

Crime Prevention: Publicity

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the effectiveness of the knife free campaign messaging on chicken boxes will be measured.

Kit Malthouse: The #knifefree campaign is based on independent qualitative and quantitative insight and evaluation after extensive testing with the target audience.An independent quantitative survey will be undertaken with a robust sample of the target audience to measure the effectiveness of #knifefree summer campaign activity, including the fast food boxes. This evaluation captures where interviewees recall seeing #knifefree campaign communications, as well as attitudinal measures relating to knife crime and knife carrying.All City Media Solutions, will also undertake a post-campaign analysis including measuring awareness and creative effectiveness of the campaign.

Metropolitan Police: Recruitment

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the additional police officers will be recruited (a) to the Metropolitan Police and (b) to work in Southwark.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Immigration: EEA Nationals

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken for EEA nationals’ settlement status to be verified by border officials after the UK exits the EU in the event that the secure online service is inaccessible due to (a) temporary system failure, (b) planned system maintenance and (c) cyber-attack.

Brandon Lewis: Immediately after exit, EU citizens can continue to cross the border using their passport or national identity card. They will be able to use e-Gates if they are travelling on a biometric passport.EU citizens will not be routinely asked to prove that they have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme after EU Exit in order to re-enter the UK but systems will be in place to allow border officials to make such checks where necessary. There are established contingency processes and procedures in the event of any interruption to systems at the border which border officials are familiar with.Once the new points based immigration system is fully introduced, Border Force will be able to identify those individuals granted status digitally without the need for the individual to provide evidence.

Personation

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of reports of identity theft and fraud made to Action Fraud which were not recorded as crimes in each year from 2015 to 2019.

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of identity theft and fraud made to Action Fraud were referred to trading standards departments for investigation in each year from 2015 to 2019.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Home Office: Energy Supply

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which provider supplies energy to his Department; how much CO2 was emitted through his Department’s energy consumption in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria his Department uses to selecting an energy supplier includes how environmentally friendly the supplier is; and what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce CO2 emissions from its energy use.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Immigration Controls: EU Nationals

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, wnat documentation officials at the border have been instructed to accept as proof of (a) settled status and (b) pre-settled status for EU nationals arriving in the UK after 31 October 2019.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asylum: Finance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department paid to Sodexo to provide the Aspen card service in each year for which data is available; and what estimate her Department has made of the future costs of that service.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office does not publish data on the costs of the Sodexo contract as it is considered commercially sensitive.As we are in the process of retendering for the payment card we are unable to provide any information on future costs.

City of London Police: Action Fraud

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the management of Action Fraud by the City of London Police.

Brandon Lewis: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 October 2019.The correct answer should have been:

The Government’s Joint Fraud Taskforce (a coalition between government, industry, law enforcement and the third sector) continues to lead an ambitious programme of work to design out and prevent fraud that occurs both online and offline. This includes theTake Five fraud awareness campaign, designed to urge the public and businesses to take time to consider whether a situation they find themselves in is genuine.Online personal scams are increasingly perpetrated via cyber-enabled methods. To protect victims, the Government set up the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in October 2016. The NCSC is the UK’s technical authority on cyber security and provides a single, central body for cyber security at a national level. The NCSC works very closely with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community to help prevent, disrupt and investigate cyber-crime and other online cyber related threats. In 2018 the NCSC took down 22,133 phishing campaigns, including 14,124 UK government-related phishing sites, and the total number of takedowns of fraudulent websites was 192,256, across 2018, with 64% of them down in 24 hours.The City of London Police undertake a national lead force role for the investigation of serious and complex fraud cases. The Home Office remains committed to improving the law enforcement response to fraud. That is why we requested that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conduct a thematic inspection on fraud, including Action Fraud, and set out measures for improving the response to fraud in our Economic Crime Plan, which was published in July. The City of London Police (as the National Lead Force for fraud) is currently implementing recommendations within HMICFRS’ inspection report, which was published on 2nd April.The scale and complexity of the threat from serious and organised crime means that we need to do more to develop our response. The Government therefore recently announced a formal review to identify the powers, capabilities, governance and funding needed in response to this threat.

Brandon Lewis: The Government’s Joint Fraud Taskforce (a coalition between government, industry, law enforcement and the third sector) continues to lead an ambitious programme of work to design out and prevent fraud that occurs both online and offline. This includes theTake Five fraud awareness campaign, designed to urge the public and businesses to take time to consider whether a situation they find themselves in is genuine.Online personal scams are increasingly perpetrated via cyber-enabled methods. To protect victims, the Government set up the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in October 2016. The NCSC is the UK’s technical authority on cyber security and provides a single, central body for cyber security at a national level. The NCSC works very closely with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community to help prevent, disrupt and investigate cyber-crime and other online cyber related threats. In 2018 the NCSC took down 22,133 phishing campaigns, including 14,124 UK government-related phishing sites, and the total number of takedowns of fraudulent websites was 192,256, across 2018, with 64% of them down in 24 hours.The City of London Police undertake a national lead force role for the investigation of serious and complex fraud cases. The Home Office remains committed to improving the law enforcement response to fraud. That is why we requested that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conduct a thematic inspection on fraud, including Action Fraud, and set out measures for improving the response to fraud in our Economic Crime Plan, which was published in July. The City of London Police (as the National Lead Force for fraud) is currently implementing recommendations within HMICFRS’ inspection report, which was published on 2nd April.The scale and complexity of the threat from serious and organised crime means that we need to do more to develop our response. The Government therefore recently announced a formal review to identify the powers, capabilities, governance and funding needed in response to this threat.

Care Homes: Children

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of times police forces in England have been called to children's homes.

Kit Malthouse: The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office.

Offensive Weapons Act 2019

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 285406 on Offensive Weapons Act 2019, what additional resources he plans to provide to the police to ensure that they are able to enforce that legislation.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Fire Prevention

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to make the Fire and Rescue Services and other approved fire inspectors aware of their duties to ensure that school notice boards are fire compliant; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person (usually the owner, employer or managing agent) is required to undertake and review regularly a fire risk assessment of the premises and ensure adequate fire protection measures are in place and maintained appropriately in order to mitigate the risk to life from fire. To help responsible persons identify and mitigate fire risk and comply with the provisions of the Order, Government has made available guidance, including a specific guide for education premises, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-educational-premisesThe Fire and Rescue National Framework for England requires fire and rescue authorities to have a management strategy and risk-based inspection programme in place to ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Order within their respective areas.Fire and rescue authorities visit premises to audit compliance. They check the fire risk assessment and that the fire precautions in place are adequate and effective in keeping the risk to life as low as reasonably practicable. If the audit shows a premises to be unsatisfactory, fire and rescue authorities can issue an informal notice suggesting safety measures or, in more serious cases, a formal notice.

British National (Overseas)

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British National (Overseas) passports issued to people from Hong Kong remain valid.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Immigration Controls: Sudan

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken since 14 August 2019 to ensure that human rights violators from Sudan do not enter the UK.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will not impose any restrictions on the number of seasonal agricultural workers coming to Scotland.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Law Enforcement Data Service

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions paragraph 10, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the disruption of law enforcement data and information sharing between the UK and the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without no deal.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Police: Recruitment

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government plans to spend on the Be a Force for All campaign via (a) websites, (b) newspapers, (c) television, (d) search engine optimisation, (e) social media by platform, (f) billboards (g) and any other medium in (i) total and (ii)  each month of the campaign.

Kit Malthouse: The first phase of the police recruitment campaign is running from Thursday 5th September to Friday 18th October 2019. The department is currently expecting to spend approximately £1.4m on this phase of campaign activity including website development and advertising. The next phase of the campaign is due to run from January 2020. The department is currently in planning for this campaign and is yet to finalise budgets across the programme. Government policies and programmes affect the lives of millions of people and in order for them to work, they must be communicated effectively to engage the public and bring about positive behaviour change. However, this has to be done with cost efficiency in mind and there are strict rules to ensure value for money on Government advertising.

Police: Recruitment

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which companies have been awarded contracts to run the websites for the Be a Force for All police recruitment campaign; how much was disbursed from the public purse to those companies under those contracts; which advertising channels have been used by those companies for that campaign; and how much each of those companies spent on each of those advertising channels.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office is responsible for delivery of the national police recruitment campaign.No tender was sent out specifically for the police recruitment campaign website. The national police recruitment campaign, including the campaign website, is delivered through existing government contracts with government-procured agencies who work across a number of Home Office priority issues. These contracts are awarded through open competition and spend is capped to ensure value for money for the taxpayer – contractual information is available to the public through Contracts Finder.The Home Office has worked with its contracted digital agency , Story UK.No advertising channels have been used by Story UK in relation to the website and no money spent.

Domestic Abuse

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals on Domestic Abuse in autumn 2019.

Victoria Atkins: The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill was introduced in the Commons on 16 July 2019. The Bill sits alongside a package of non-legislative measures targeted at tackling this abhorrent crime. The Government is committed to progressing this Bill and Second Reading took take place on 2 October. The Bill will be carried carried over into the next session of Parliament.

Police: Recruitment

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the websites (a) www.joiningthepolice.co.uk and (b) www.policenow.org.uk do not use gov.uk.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office is responsible for the www.joiningthepolice.co.uk website. The Home Office applied for, and was granted, an exemption from gov.uk in line with normal procedures on the basis that the gov.uk campaigns platform offers limited functionality. Specifically, it would not have supported the required interactive map providing live information on the forces currently recruiting in specific entry routes. Police Now is an independent national charitable social enterprise. The Home Office is not responsible for its website arrangements.

Police: Recruitment

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure that the Be a Force for All campaign complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); and whether a data protection impact assessment has been produced in accordance with Article 35 and 36 of the GDPR.

Kit Malthouse: We take the protection and privacy of personal data very seriously. The Government Communication Service, as the professional body for communications in government, upholds the highest professional standards in undertaking its duties and in particular, complying with data protection legislation.The campaign microsite, www.joiningthepolice.co.uk, directs potential applicants to local police force websites, which are not managed by the Home Office, to begin their application process. The microsite collects IP addresses and generates cookies to inform improvement of the site and to make campaign marketing more engaging and relevant. However, this information is not used to identify users personally and is handled in accordance with the current data protection legislation.For further information on the campaign microsite’s use of data and cookies please visit:https://www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/privacy.htmlhttps://www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/cookies.html

Visas: Migrant Workers

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that visa-free travel is maintained between the UK and the EU for short visits to work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a new immigration system will be in place from 1 November 2019 for people working in the UK and not under visiting or settled status.

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there will be a transition immigration system in place from 1 November 2019 for people working in the UK and not under visiting or settled status.

Brandon Lewis: Whether the UK leaves the EU on 31 October 2019 with or without a deal, the Government has announced that EEA and Swiss citizens will be able to continue to travel to the UK until the end of 2020 without needing a visa.From January 2021 we will introduce a new points-based immigration system. This will prioritise the skills and contributions people can make to the UK, rather than where they come from.In a no deal scenario, there will be a transitional period before the new immigration system commences in 2021. The Government announced the details of these temporary immigration arrangements on 4 September 2019 and they are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-deal-immigration-arrangements-for-eu-citizens-moving-to-the-uk-after-brexit.Law-abiding EEA and Swiss citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit will still be able to live and work in the UK for a temporary period, but we will make it harder for serious criminals to enter the UK. Those new arrivals who wish to stay beyond the end of 2020 will need to apply for a UK immigration status. The Home Office will open a new immigration scheme – the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme – to provide a route to apply for this status. The online application process will be simple and free of charge. Subject to identity, security and criminality checks, successful applicants will be granted 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK. This will provide them with a bridge into the new immigration system.EEA and Swiss citizens who are resident in the UK by exit on 31 October 2019 will remain eligible to apply for UK immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme. They will have until at least 31 December 2020 to do so.

Action Fraud: Telephone Services

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the average time it takes for Action Fraud call centre operators to answer calls from the public; and what is Action Fraud's target time is for answering such calls.

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people employed by Action Fraud as (a) call centre operators, (b) investigators and (c) other staff.

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the average time taken to investigate cases at Action Fraud; and what steps she is taking to ensure Action Fraud has the resources necessary to investigate such cases.

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of Action Fraud's performance.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Knives: Crime

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds in relation to perpetrators of crimes using sharp objects and (a) time spent in Pupil Referral Units, (b) housing status and (c) employment status.

Kit Malthouse: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 October 2019.The correct answer should have been:

As set out in the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy, there are a number of risk and protective factors for involvement in serious violence, some of which relate to background or personal circumstances. The Home Office does not, however, routinely collect information about whether those who are charged with, or convicted of, offences involving sharp objects have spent time in a Pupil Referral Unit or about their housing and employment status. The Home Office does not routinely collect information about whether those who are charged with, or convicted of, offences involving sharp objects have spent time in a Pupil Referral Unit or about their housing and employment status.

Kit Malthouse: As set out in the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy, there are a number of risk and protective factors for involvement in serious violence, some of which relate to background or personal circumstances. The Home Office does not, however, routinely collect information about whether those who are charged with, or convicted of, offences involving sharp objects have spent time in a Pupil Referral Unit or about their housing and employment status. The Home Office does not routinely collect information about whether those who are charged with, or convicted of, offences involving sharp objects have spent time in a Pupil Referral Unit or about their housing and employment status.

Fraud: Internet

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to tackle the threat of online personal scams to vulnerable people.

Brandon Lewis: The Government’s Joint Fraud Taskforce (a coalition between government, industry, law enforcement and the third sector) continues to lead an ambitious programme of work to design out and prevent fraud that occurs both online and offline. This includes theTake Five fraud awareness campaign, designed to urge the public and businesses to take time to consider whether a situation they find themselves in is genuine.Online personal scams are increasingly perpetrated via cyber-enabled methods. To protect victims, the Government set up the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in October 2016. The NCSC is the UK’s technical authority on cyber security and provides a single, central body for cyber security at a national level. The NCSC works very closely with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community to help prevent, disrupt and investigate cyber-crime and other online cyber related threats. In 2018 the NCSC took down 22,133 phishing campaigns, including 14,124 UK government-related phishing sites, and the total number of takedowns of fraudulent websites was 192,256, across 2018, with 64% of them down in 24 hours.

Police: Human Rights

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many human rights advisors are employed by police forces in England and Wales.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office does not hold this information.

Immigration: Windrush Generation

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent advertising and promoting the Windrush Compensation Scheme in (a) Romsey and Southampton North and (b) nationally.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

*No heading*

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish research undertaken to identify target audiences prior to launching the #knifefree campaign on fast food containers.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Proceeds of Crime

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what type of costs are incurred by the public purse when dealing with assets seized by the NCA.

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial controls are in place to ensure the effective use of public funds when properties are seized by the National Crime Agency.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to apply restrictions on access to (a) social security and (b) health services to non-UK EU citizens (i) without evidence of settled status and (ii) with other legal immigration status after 31 October 2019.

Brandon Lewis: Eligibility rules governing access to social security benefits and NHS services by EU citizens living in the UK will not change on 31 October 2019. We have made clear that all EU citizens will require status under UK immigration legislation to continue living in the UK after the end of 2020, when the new points-based immigration system is introduced. We will set out the rules for the new system and associated entitlements in due course.

Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to announce her Department's policy on support for survivors of modern trafficking who have received a positive conclusive grounds decision.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is committed to ending modern slavery and providing victims with the support they need to rebuild their lives.Support and assistance for adult victims of modern slavery is provided via the government-funded Victim Care Contract, in England and Wales. This support enables victims leaving situations of exploitation to access specialist care, to begin to rebuild their lives. This includes accommodation, financial support, access to mental and physical health services, and signposting to legal sup-port. Confirmed victims receive a minimum of 90 days Victim Care Contract support; however, many are supported for longer than this.Our new Recovery Needs Assessment process will improve support for confirmed victims by ensuring their ongoing recovery needs, arising from their modern slavery experiences, are identified and supported through the Victim Care Contract or other services. The Recovery Needs Assessment will inform an individual move-on plan with the aim of establishing longer-term stability by helping victims transition out of Victim Care Contract support and into a community where they can start to rebuild their lives. Where this is not yet possible, Victim Care Contract services will continue to meet the confirmed victim’s recovery needs.The Recovery Needs Assessment guidance was published on Friday 27 September and assessments will start during the week commencing 30 September. We will keep the Recovery Needs Assessment process and guidance under review throughout its gradually phased implementation over the coming months.

Human Trafficking: Immigration

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a new immigration status of survivor of modern slavery for people who have received a positive conclusive grounds decision through the National Referral Mechanism.

Victoria Atkins: If a confirmed victim of modern slavery does not qualify for asylum, humanitarian protection or other forms of leave to remain under the Immigration Rules, then they are considered for a grant of discretionary leave to remain on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the particular circumstances of each case. There are no plans to change this policy.

Fire Prevention

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to increase wildfire resilience in the UK.

Kit Malthouse: Fire and rescue authorities in England are required to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan that assesses all foreseeable fire and rescue related risks (including wildfire) that could affect their area.The National Fire Chiefs Council are increasing the number of specialist wildfire tactical advisors across the country and are developing a wildfires asset register to more easily source specialist equipment when required.In addition, the Home Office supports services by providing over £27m for specialist capabilities, such as high-volume pumps, which are well used to combat major wildfires.

Agriculture: Recruitment

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the poultry meat sector has access to the labour it needs in any future scenario.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asylum: Finance

Ruth Smeeth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who are in receipt of Section 4 support are able to pay (a) travel fares which can only be purchased with cash and (b) other upfront travel costs in order to report at Home Office reporting centres.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asylum: Travel

Ruth Smeeth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure reporting frequencies are not excessively (a) burdensome and (b) expensive for people who live in places where the journey to a Home Office reporting centre is significant.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Undocumented Migrants

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the (a) number of illegal migrants who have entered the UK by crossing the English Channel and (b) proportion of such migrants that have been returned to France in the last 12 months.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Domestic Abuse: Discrimination

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure equal protection for all domestic abuse survivors by upholding the non-discrimination principle in accordance with Article 4(3) of the Istanbul Convention.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Civil Disorder

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2019 to Question 290705 on Civil Disorder, on what dates Ministers of her Department have met with the (a) National Police Chiefs Council and (b) the National Police Coordination Centre since July 2019; and what were the outcomes of those meetings.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2019 to Question 290704 which states that there is no intelligence to suggest widespread public disorder, what the evidential basis was for the statement in paragraph 13 of the Yellowhammer document suggesting there may be a rise in public disorder and community tensions.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has contingency plans to second police officers to alternative territorial police forces in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Kit Malthouse: Ministers and officials engage regularly with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the National Police Coordination (NPoCC) to determine the impact of EU Exit on policing and to plan accordingly. There is no intelligence to suggest that there will be widespread disorder, however the planning assumptions contained within the Yellowhammer document were formed through professional judgements to inform the reasonable worst case scenario for No Deal EU Exit.How the contingency plans are delivered is an operational matter for the police. They have tried and tested mobilisation plans for responding to a wide range of scenarios. We are working with the National Police Chiefs Council and National Police Coordination Centre to ensure the plans are appropriate for a No Deal EU Exit including any requirements for the provision of mutual aid.

Home Office: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of her Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Retail Trade: Crimes of Violence

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is he taking to strengthen protections for shop workers that face (a) abusive, (b) threatening and (c) violent behaviour.

Kit Malthouse: The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse toward shop staff can have.That is why the National Retail Crime Steering Group brings together Government, the police, retailers and others to help ensure the response to these crimes, and wider related issues, is as robust as it can be. This includes guidance on reporting incidents to the police and the use of Impact Statements for Business which provide victims with a voice in the criminal justice process. The Home Office also provided £60,000 for a targeted communications campaign led by the Association of Convenience Stores to raise awareness.In addition, we launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff to help strengthen our understanding of the scale and extent of the issue. The call for evidence has now closed and we are currently analysing responses. We intend to publish the Government’s response in due course.

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many organisations receive funding from his Department through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.

Victoria Atkins: There are currently 22 organisations receiving funding under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund. The Home Office is one of these organisations, the rest are third party recipients.

Electronic Government: Data Protection

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding sent by the Cabinet Office to his Department on the sharing of GOV.UK user data with the Government Digital Service.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office does not currently routinely publish its memorandum of understanding with other government departments and will therefore not be publishing this agreement.

Seasonal Workers: Pilot Schemes

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications made to the seasonal workers pilot scheme were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for the seasonal workers pilot scheme from businesses operating in Scotland were (a) made and (b) successful.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications under the seasonal workers pilot scheme were allocated but not filled with a seasonal worker.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria his Department plans to use to evaluate the seasonal workers pilot scheme.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places on the seasonal workers pilot scheme were allocated to (a) operators and (b) businesses in (i) Angus (ii) Perth and North Perthshire, (iii) Stirling, (iv) Ochil and South Perthshire and (v) North East Fife.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places on the seasonal workers pilot scheme were allocated to (a) operators and (b) businesses in (i) Ayr Carrick and Cumnock, (ii) Dumfries and Galloway, (iii) Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweedale, (iv) Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk and (v) East Lothian.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places on the seasonal workers pilot scheme were allocated to (a) operators and (b) businesses in (i) Mcray, (ii) Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, (iii) Banff and Buchan (iv) Gordon and (v) West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituencies.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Jon Wedger

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to investigate allegations made by whistleblower Jon Wedger against the Metropolitan Police.

Kit Malthouse: The investigation of allegations made against police forces is a matter for the force and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to consider as appropriate. The decision-making processes of both organisations are independent of the Government and the Home Office itself.

Police: Road Traffic Control

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations her Department for policing operations in relation to traffic management in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Kit Malthouse: Ministers and officials have been working closely with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) alongside the Department for Transport and Highways England to determine the role of the police in supporting the delivery of traffic management plans in the event of a No Deal. Highways England are responsible for the strategic road network.

Knives: Crime

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of knife crime in (a) Slough constituency and (b) the UK.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce incidences of knife crime in (a) Slough constituency and (b) the UK.

Kit Malthouse: There were 1,514 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by Thames Valley Police in 2018/19, a 13 per cent increase compared with the previous year, and a 30 per cent increase since 2010/11. Across England and Wales, there has been an 8 per cent increase in 2018/19, and a 42 per cent increase since 2010/11. These increases are thought to be partly a genuine increase and partly due to improvements in the police recording of these offences.We are taking determined action to tackle knife crime and other serious violence. This includes giving the police the resources and tools they need to keep families, communities and our country safe. We have recently launched a national campaign to begin to recruit 20,000 new police officers over the next three years, and we are making it easier for the police to use stop and search powers.Police funding is increasing by more than £1 billion this year, including council tax and additional funding through the £100 million Serious Violence Fund. This Fund includes £63.4 million for surge operational activity, £35 million to support Violence Reduction Units, and £1.6 million to help improve the quality of data on serious violence. Thames Valley Police are receiving £1.94 million from the Fund for surge activity and a further £1.16 million for their Violence Reduction Unit.In addition, through the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, we are providing the police with more powers, and making it more difficult for young people to get hold of knives in the first place. The Act includes Knife Crime Prevention Orders which will give the police an important new tool to help them to work with people to steer them away from serious violence and knife crime.We continue to encourage all police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. The operation includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps, surrender of knives, including through amnesty bins, test purchases of knives from retailers, and educational events. The latest phase of the operation took place from 17 to 22 September.We are also addressing the root causes of crime by investing over £220 million in early intervention projects and in July this year, the Government announced a new legal duty on public bodies to prevent and tackle serious violence. This will ensure that all relevant services work together to share data and knowledge, and to allow them to target their interventions to prevent violence altogether.

European Institute of Human Sciences: Proscribed Organisations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has assessed potential links between the European Institute for Human Sciences and proscribed organisations.

Brandon Lewis: Whilst we keep the list of proscribed groups under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being investigated for its potential links with groups on this list.

Police: Recruitment

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when forces will be told of the allocation of funding in order to recruit 6,000 additional officers.

Kit Malthouse: The Government has committed to increasing the number of police officers by an additional 20,000 over the next three years.Up to 6,000 additional officers will be recruited in the first wave by the end of 2020/21 and will be shared among the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales.The allocation of officers across England and Wales is yet to be confirmed.

National Policing Board

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how times the National Policing Board has met in the last year.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Burglary Task Force

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Burglary Taskforce has met since its first meeting on 29 April 2019.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which outcomes from the meeting of the Burglary Taskforce on 29 April 2019 have been implemented.

Kit Malthouse: Members of the Burglary Taskforce met on 28 June to review progress on the actions agreed at the meeting on 29 April. A further meeting of the Taskforce is planned to take place before the end of the year.On 1 October the Home Secretary announced a £25 million Safer Streets Fund aimed at preventing acquisitive crime, including residential burglary, in areas disproportionately affected by these crimes.

Social Media: Violence

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police staff and officers are working on the Government funded social media hub to tackle violent content online; and what the volume is of gang-related content that has been (a) disrupted and (b) removed from social media platforms.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

A34

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effects of Operation Snow Bunting planning on the A34 in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) other counties.

Kit Malthouse: Ministers and officials have been working closely with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) alongside the Department for Transport and Highways England to determine the role of the police in supporting the delivery of traffic management plans in the event of a No Deal.Highways England are responsible for the strategic road network and have been engaging with Local Resilience Fora to put in place local plans

Home Office: Ethnic Groups

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of staff who applied for promotion within her Department from 1 September 2018 to 1 September 2019 and who identified as (a) BAME and (b) White were successful by each grade in her Department.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

North Yorkshire Police Authority: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department allocated to North Yorkshire Police Authority in each financial year since 2010-11.

Kit Malthouse: Police Grant allocations are published by the Home Office every year. Historical grant allocation figures can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-finance

Crime: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences of (a) crime related to vehicles, (b) burglary of a dwelling, (c) other burglary, (d) criminal damage, (e) theft, (f) violence and (g) other crimes were committed in York in each financial year since 2010-11.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office collects data on crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales. These data are published quarterly and available back to the 2002/03 financial year at the level of Community Service Partnership (CSP) here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesThe CSP “City of York” covers recorded crimes within York by financial year.

Children in Care: Crime

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the (a) Howard League for Penal Reform's publication of 8 July 2018, Know your numbers: using data to monitor and address criminalisation and (b) work of Durham Police who are using data as part of a programme of work with children's homes, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using data to help reduce criminalisation and safeguard children living in children's homes.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full-time equivalent staff are employed to work on the EU Settled Status Scheme.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Police

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been put on standby for redeployment for mutual aid from (a) South Wales Police, (b) Greater Manchester Police, (c) Thames Valley Police, (d) Northumbria Police, (e) West Midlands Police and (f) British Transport Police for the period identified by Operation Snow Bunting.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Domestic Abuse: Older People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help people over the age of 60 experiencing domestic abuse.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asylum

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with her counterparts in EU Member States to help ensure that take charge requests are submitted to the UK before its departure from the EU.

Brandon Lewis: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Antisocial Behaviour

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2019 to Question 257770 on Antisocial Behaviour, what recent assessment she has made of the level of compliance by local authorities with the requirement under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to publish data on their use of Community Triggers.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of (a) Criminal Behaviour Orders, (b) Civil Injunctions and (c) Community Protection Notices introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Victoria Atkins: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Police: Recuitment

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's plans to recruit 20,000 new police officers, how many new officers will be will be deployed in (a) Surrey and (b) the South East.

Kit Malthouse: The allocation of new officers between forces is yet to be confirmed.The Government’s commitment to recruiting 20,000 additional officers over three years will provide every force in England and Wales with an uplift in resource to address the demand pressures they face.The Chancellor has announced that the Home Office will receive £750 million for investment in policing in 2020/21, this funding will support recruitment of the first wave of up to 6,000 additional officers across the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales.

Fraud: Older People

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to raise awareness of telephone scams that target elderly people.

Brandon Lewis: Since September 2016, the Government has been running the Take Five fraud awareness campaign designed to urge the public and businesses to take time to consider whether a situation they find themselves in is genuine. The campaign equips the public to more confidently challenge fraudulent approaches – be they face-to-face, on the telephone or online. Specific advice on phone scams and vishing can be found at www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.The Take Five campaign has been jointly led by HMG and UK Finance and involved influential public, private and third sector partners, including Age UK, National Trading Standards (Friends Against Scams initiative), Neighbourhood Watch, banks and law enforcement to deliver protective messages to people who are most vulnerable to fraud, including the elderly. The campaign has been run nationally across digital and social media, radio and video on demand platforms, and included media partnerships with publications such as Women’s Weekly, Ideal Home and Take a Break and presenter-led spots on radio stations like LBC and Heart, seeking to embed behavioural change amongst the target audience.In addition to this campaign activity, the Government continues to work on practical solutions to address nuisance and scam calls. DCMS secured over £600k in the Autumn Budget to provide vulnerable people with call blocking devices. This was in addition to £500K secured for the same purpose in the previous spending review period. This funding has helped to protect some of the most vulnerable in society from nuisance calls and scams, including those originating from overseas. The Government has also taken action to ban pensions cold calling, recognising that it is the most common method used to initiate pension fraud, which can leave people facing retirement with a greatly reduced income

Police: Retirement

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of police officers expected to retire in the next three years.

Kit Malthouse: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Fire and Rescue Services: Training

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to provide suppression and prevention training on wildfires for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Kit Malthouse: The National Fire Chiefs Council are responsible for driving work to further improve the fire sector’s approach to wildfire preparedness. They are increasing the number of specialist wildfire tactical advisors across the country and are developing a wildfires asset register to more easily source specialist equipment when required.In addition, the Home Office supports services by providing over £27m for specialist capabilities, such as high-volume pumps, which are well used to combat major wildfires. This funding covers the training required for the pumps, which is overseen by the National Resilience Assurance Team in Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

Immigration: Families

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend Family Immigration Rules for Dependant Relatives to include British Citizens intending to return to the UK with their dependant relative.

Seema Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Northern Ireland Office

Belfast Agreement: Brexit

Conor McGinn: To ask Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment the Government has made of the compatibility of the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement with (a) the UK leaving the EU without a deal and (b) the Irish backstop.

Julian Smith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Treasury

Tax Avoidance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure the impartiality of the leader of the inquiry into loan charge schemes.

Jesse Norman: The Chancellor has commissioned Sir Amyas Morse, former CEO of the National Audit Office, to lead an independent Review to consider the impact of the Loan Charge, focusing on individuals who entered directly into disguised remuneration schemes. Sir Amyas is widely respected, as was emphasised by colleagues across the House in a debate of 6 March 2019. Sir Amyas has full control over how the Review is run and the outcome. For more information, the Review’s terms of reference can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disguised-remuneration-independent-loan-charge-review

Taxation: USA

Martyn Day: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in the US Administration on the creation of accidental Americans through the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

Jesse Norman: It is a matter for the US government to determine how US tax obligations are calculated. This includes how these obligations apply to people born in the US. The US has a long-standing policy of taxing on the basis of citizenship rather than residence. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act is a reporting mechanism that obliges financial institutions to report the details of US citizens to the US. UK Government officials continue to actively and regularly engage with their US counterparts regarding US citizens who are resident in the UK.

Insolvency

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his officials had with the Insolvency Service on the draft Finance Bill 2019-20 prior to its publication on 11 July 2019; and whether views were sought on the policy to make HMRC a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of establishing HMRC as a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies on the sustainability of the Pension Protection Fund.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the policy to make HMRC a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies on the number of corporate insolvencies from Q1 2020 onwards.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of establishing HMRC as a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies on the ability of SMEs to access finance.

Jesse Norman: The Government carefully considered the case for reform prior to announcing this change last year, and it is the Government’s view that taxpayers can reasonably expect that when they have successfully paid their taxes, these go to fund public services as intended. This measure represents a proportionate approach that balances the interests of taxpayers, the Exchequer, and other creditors. The Government expects the impact on the sustainability of Pension Protection Fund (PPF) to be marginal. This reform will not lead to a significant change in recoveries to the PPF compared to current returns. The Government does not expect this reform to affect significantly SMEs’ access to finance or corporate insolvencies, and in line with the Government’s commitment to open and consultative policymaking is engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure policy changes are well informed and based upon the best available evidence.

Employment: Taxation

Christian Matheson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the roll-out of the off-payroll rules on levels of UK contracting roles.

Jesse Norman: The off-payroll working rules have been in place since 2000. Reforms to how the off-payroll rules are administered in the public sector have been in place since 6 April 2017. Independent research into the reforms in the public sector showed there was no clear evidence of a reduction in the number of contractor roles, relative to public sector bodies’ overall workforce. Most public sector bodies did not experience any change in their ability to fill vacancies, following the reforms.

Treasury: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely and is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

Fossil Fuels: VAT

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing reduced VAT on heating fuels deriving from fossil fuels.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government has no plans to increase the rate of VAT on fuels used for household energy. However, all taxes are kept under review and decisions on tax are considered as part of the normal fiscal policy making process.

Tax Avoidance

Sandy Martin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of taxpayers working for a single employer under a Loan Charge scheme who would not have had the choice of being employed directly by that employer.

Jesse Norman: Disguised remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that use loan payments in place of ordinary remuneration, usually through an offshore trust, with the purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice. HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) position is that they are no different to income, and that they are and have always been taxable. The Government has heard claims that some individuals were compelled to use DR schemes, but HMRC have not seen cases that support this claim.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the total revenue the public purse has forgone due to the freeze in fuel duty since 2011.

Mr Simon Clarke: Based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) published policy costings, we estimate the cumulative loss to the Exchequer from the successive fuel duty freezes from financial year 2011-12 to the current financial year 2018-19 to be around £46.2bn to the benefit of the UK taxpayer. The annual impacts on the Exchequer are reported in the table below.   2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-19Exchequer impact (£m)-2,275-3,465-4,645-5,800-6,375-6,815-7,875-8,070 The OBR’s policy costings are available at the following link: https://obr.uk/download/policy-measures-database/

Productivity

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of productivity growth can be attributed to financial technology in the last five years.

Mr Simon Clarke: The government has not made an assessment of the proportion of productivity growth in the last five years that is attributable to financial technology. However, the Government has taken significant steps to increase competition in financial services, including creating an environment in which Fintech firms can grow and compete with incumbents. The Competition and Market Authority has led the Open Banking initiative, bringing more competition and innovation to financial services. The FCA has also established the Innovation Hub and Regulatory Sandbox to support Fintech, both of which are held up as global examples of best practice. Further information on the Government’s efforts to promote Fintech can be found in the Fintech Sector Strategy, published in March 2018.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of rises in income tax thresholds on income distribution in the last 10 years.

Jesse Norman: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 30th September (written question number 290638).

Service Industries: Non-domestic Rates

Steve Double: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the application of state aid rules to business rates on the hospitality sector.

Jesse Norman: While the UK is an EU member state the UK continues to be bound by State aid rules. The Government has taken repeated action to reduce the burden of business rates for all ratepayers, including those in the hospitality sector.

Non-domestic Rates: Appeals

Steve Double: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the business rates appeal system Check, Challenge, Appeal.

Jesse Norman: Official statistics published by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on 22 August show that the system is operating as intended with issues being resolved at the appropriate stage. At 30 June 2019, 100,740 Checks and 17,010 Challenges had been registered, of which 89,440 Checks and 6,300 Challenges had been resolved. Most Checks are currently being resolved in 3 months and most Challenges within 12 months. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government intends to carry out a review of the effectiveness of the Check, Challenge, Appeal system. The VOA is also conducting a customer evaluation of the delivery of the new system.

Valuation Office Agency: Finance

Steve Double: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of funding for the Valuation Office Agency in order to ensure that it is able to effectively process business rates appeals.

Jesse Norman: The Treasury has provided the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) with the resources it needs to deliver the valuations and property advice required to support the smooth running of the taxation and benefits system. At Spending Review 2019, HMRC (the VOA’s sponsor department) received a resource budget increase in line with inflation from 2019/20 to 2020/21. The Treasury continues to work closely with the VOA and HMRC to understand the VOA’s resource requirements to deliver its functions and is committed to ensure that the VOA is appropriately funded.

Tax  Avoidance

Graham P Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to revise the current duty collection arrangements on post duty point dilution tax avoidance.

Mr Simon Clarke: At Budget 2018, the government announced its plans to prohibit the practice of post duty point dilution (PDPD) from April 2020. From that date, wine and made-wine producers will not be able to use PDPD to reduce the excise duty they must pay. Legislation to be included within Finance Bill 2019-20 will give HM Revenue & Customs new sanctions that may be applied to any producer that continues to use PDPD after that date. There are no plans to revise the existing arrangements for duty collection.

Spirits: Excise Duties

Graham P Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reduce the rate of duty on spirits distilled by smaller distilleries in the UK.

Mr Simon Clarke: The government has no current plans to introduce a small spirits relief. However, all taxes are kept under review and the impact of such a change is considered at each fiscal event; including its effect on the industry and wider economy.

Solar Power: VAT

Alex Norris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 3 October 2019 to Questions 292302 and 292304, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that VAT changes to materials used for solar installations will have a negligible environmental impact.

Jesse Norman: The changes to the VAT rules for energy-saving materials are expected to affect a relatively small number of installations. It is therefore anticipated that there will be a negligible impact on the environment. Around 1,500 future installations of solar panels, energy-saving boilers and wind turbines are expected to be affected annually, plus some other smaller scale items. This represents less than 5% of the value of all installations currently eligible for the reduced rate. The changes are expected to have a negligible impact on the Exchequer. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published by HMRC on GOV.UK on 10 July 2019.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Laura Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will issue guidance on the recourse available to people in Crewe and Nantwich constituency who have either not been paid out for Equitable Life or who have received insufficient compensation.

John Glen: There are no plans to reopen the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. The Equitable Life Payment Scheme closed to claims in 2015 and further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme.

Private Rented Housing: Taxation

John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the gap between tax owed and tax paid by private landlords.

Jesse Norman: The information requested is not available as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not make a separate estimate of the proportion of the total tax gap attributable to private landlords. However, HMRC do estimate the tax gap arising from individuals in employment who have not declared and therefore not paid tax on lettings income. The latest estimate of this tax gap was £560 million for the tax year 2017-18.

Inflation and Pay

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment he has made of rates of wage growth and inflation.

John Glen: The fundamentals of the British economy are strong – wages are growing at the fastest rate in over a decade, employment is at a joint record high and the unemployment rate is at its lowest in over 40 years. Inflation has been at or around target since the start of 2019, and as a result wages have now outpaced inflation on a CPI basis for over a year.On 1 April 2019, we increased the National Living Wage by 4.9% to £8.21 - an above inflation increase which meant that a full-time worker on the National Living Wage would be earning £690 more over the coming year. Supported by the National Living Wage, the lowest earners have seen their wages grow by 8% above inflation between April 2015 and April 2018.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the detailed planning assumptions of the Border Delivery Group for each month since January 2019.

Jesse Norman: The Government recently published its reasonable worst case planning assumptions on 11 September, setting out the Government’s assessment as of 2 August. Planning assumptions are held under constant review, to reflect the latest evidence and analysis of the potential impact of leaving the EU without a deal. The Government’s updated planning assumptions will be published in due course.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Charities: Taxation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to appoint a Principal Regulator for Exempt Charities using the community benefit society legal form; and if she will make a statement.

Nicky Morgan: An appropriate body could not be found that was willing and able to take on the role of Principal Regulator for charitable community benefit societies. Therefore, there are currently no plans to appoint a Principal Regulator for these charities. However we will keep this position under review. The Charities Act 2006 does not require the appointment of a principal regulator and exempt charities are still bound by the general principles of charity law.

Sports: Plastics

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the role of major sporting and cultural events in the elimination of single use plastics.

Nigel Adams: Government strongly encourages all organisations with responsibility for sporting and cultural events, to find sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways of operating. The EventIMPACTS website, supported by DCMS, provides advice and support for event organisers to help them implement ISO 20121- which is the international standard on sustainable events. Arts Council England (ACE) support a number of organisations and projects which focus on the environment and sustainability.

Visual Impairment: Electronic Publishing

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the benefits of e-readers and other digital reading materials to partially sighted or blind people; and what steps her Department takes to promote access to these materials.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Youth Services

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2019 to Question 260670 on Youth Services and with reference to her Department's announcement on 10 July 2019 that a public consultation would be held for 8 weeks from late July 2019, when the consultation will begin; and how the process will be taken forward.

Nicky Morgan: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Eating Disorders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on levels of (a) bulimia and (b) anorexia nervosa of the portrayal of models in the fashion and beauty industry.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Local Broadcasting: Radio

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing Ofcom to protect local radio news services from reductions by multimedia companies.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Anniversaries: Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to support events in Great Britain to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021.

Nicky Morgan: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Motor Sports

Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to increase support for motor sports in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Business: Data Protection

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of data flow contractual clauses which will need to be arranged by businesses in the UK with business in the EU in the event of the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Electronic Government: Proof of Identity

Jo Platt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent communications he has received from each Gov.UK Verify provider on their continued participation in the scheme.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Football: Finance

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to continue to provide funding for the Football Association Parklife project.

Nigel Adams: The Government recognises the benefits of the Football Association Parklife project. Further investment in Parklife will continue to be considered at future fiscal events.

Technology: Conferences

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech at the United Nations on 24 September 2019, what (a) plans she has made and (b) public consultation she plans to conduct in relation to the London summit on tech; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the public opinion will be represented.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Digital Technology: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of creating a standardised procurement code for privately developed algorithms used in the public sector which includes mandatory human rights, data protection and equality impact assessments.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

5G

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to introduce safety tests on the proposed 5G pilot projects.

Matt Warman: Safety must always be paramount in technological developments and there is no credible evidence 5G is harmful to human health. All proposed 5G Testbeds and Trials (5GTT) projects have to comply with the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. ICNIRP is formally recognised by the World Health Organization. Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards takes the lead on public health matters associated with radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, or radio waves. The 5GTT has strict expectations that all grant funded projects will adhere to ICNIRP guidelines. A considerable amount of research has been carried out on radio waves and per PHE’s advice we anticipate no negative effects on public health.

Internet: Children and Young People

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to (a) ensure that young people are only able to access age appropriate internet and social media sites and (b) hold sites to account when they expose children to inappropriate content.

Matt Warman: In April we published the Online Harms White Paper, which set out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. We intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator.   Alongside the White Paper, Government published the Social Media Code of Practice. This voluntary guidance sets out actions that the Government believes social media platforms should take to prevent bullying, insulting, intimidating and humiliating behaviours on their sites. The Code is also relevant to other sites hosting user-generated content and comments. We are aware that many social media companies meet the standards set out in the Code of Practice, although Government does not actively monitor this.

Democracy: Innovation

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the invitation of 17 June 2019 from the all-party Parliamentary group on deliberative democracy to meet them to discuss progress on the innovation in democracy project; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gambling: Video Games

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support research into the effects of gambling-like mechanics in video games on (a) young and (b) vulnerable players of those games.

Nigel Adams: The DCMS Select Committee’s report on Immersive and Addictive Technology was published on 12th September. It is critical of the games sector and makes a dozen recommendations for Government action. Most of the media coverage of the report focussed on the Select Committee’s recommendation that DCMS should change the Gambling Act to bring into scope the loot box mechanics that some games contain. The report also recommended that DCMS should work with researchers to identify key questions needed to develop research into the long term effects of (video) gaming and that DCMS should establish a scientific working group to collate the latest evidence on the effects of “gambling-like” mechanics in games. DCMS is leading on the Government response which has been requested by 11 November and officials are currently developing advice for ministers. The UK’s video games sector - and particularly a number of the large inward investors here - are alarmed at the tone of the Select Committee’s report and looking to Government to show it will take an evidence-based and proportionate approach in its response. Loot boxes do not fall under gambling law where the in-game items acquired are confined for use within the game and cannot be cashed out. However, the Gambling Commission is aware of possible areas of convergence between video games and gambling, and will continue to monitor this closely.

Tourism: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase tourism in the North West.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Nigel Adams: The Chief Scientific Adviser attended one meeting with the Secretary of State and other senior officials.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of her Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Nigel Adams: Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2017.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Official Hospitality

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department spent on refreshments in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Football: Disability

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding her Department has allocated to Powerchair Football in each of the last five years.

Nigel Adams: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone is able to access sport and physical activity, including those with a disability. Sport England have contributed £70,425 of National Lottery investment in Wheelchair football activities the last 5 years (from 2015/16). Further detail on Sport England funding breakdowns can be found here: https://www.sportengland.org/funding/what-have-we-funded/

China Global Television Network

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when Ofcom is expected to report on its investigation of whether CGTN's coverage of Hong Kong protests broke broadcasting rules.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Media: Codes of Practice

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which social media companies have signed up to the Government code of conduct for social media platforms.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely. The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

Political Parties: Advertising

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to create a regulator for online political advertising.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mass Media: Regulation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will introduce independent regulation of the media to protect people from invasive and unethical journalism.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Charities: Pay

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of remuneration for chief executives in the charity sector in the last five years.

Nicky Morgan: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Databases: Finance

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding her Department has allocated to the (a) creation and (b) implementation of the Government Data Strategy.

Nigel Adams: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many people have participated in the National Citizen Service in each local authority area in Surrey in each of the last three years.

Nicky Morgan: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Disinformation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the circulation of fake content online.

Matt Warman: The Online Harms White Paper set out the Government's plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. We intend to establish a new statutory duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator, to ensure companies have appropriate processes in place to deal with harmful content on their service, and keep their users safe. Disinformation is one of the harms proposed to be in scope of the regulator. The White Paper also set out a commitment for Government to develop a new online Media Literacy Strategy. The strategy will help citizens to think critically about the content that they are consuming, and to better identify disinformation online.

Twitter: Disinformation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department is having with Twitter on tackling fake Twitter accounts.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Third Sector

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support volunteers in the third sector.

Nicky Morgan: The Government is committed to enabling people of all backgrounds to contribute their time and talents to their communities through volunteering and social action. The Government supports a number of programmes which enable volunteering opportunities. Examples include: Through the #iwill fund £20m of government investment has been matched with more than £90m of investment from 28 partner funders. So far, this has created 500,000 high quality opportunities for young people to make change in their communities. The Centre for Social Action which has invested over £9m in programmes that encourage adult volunteering initiatives that bring people together and support social outcomes.

Service Industries: Non-domestic Rates

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from the hospitality sector on the effect of business rates on that sector.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Tourism: Gardens

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the recommendations made by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in its Fourteenth Report of Session 2017-19 entitled Garden design and tourism, HC 2002.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mass Media: Regulation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will include regulation of news publishers in her legislative proposals on online harms.

Matt Warman: The Online Harms White Paper sets out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online, and to better protect the rights and wellbeing of users online. It will make companies more responsible for their users' safety online, especially children and other vulnerable groups. A vibrant, independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to our democracy. As set out in the former Secretary of State's letter to the Society of Editors, the White Paper's proposals do not impact journalistic and editorial content and will not interfere with the current approach to press regulation.

Internet: Abuse

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle anonymous abuse and threats on online platforms such as Twitter.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Media

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to prevent people from establishing anonymous platforms on social media.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Media: Abuse and Intimidation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with representatives from social media platforms on anonymous abuse and threats on those platforms.

Matt Warman: Ministers and officials have regular meetings and discussions with social media platforms on a range of issues, including online abuse and threats. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website.

Social Media

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) racism, (b) abuse and (c) threats on social media platforms.

Matt Warman: The Online Harms White Paper sets out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. We intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. The duty of care will ensure companies have appropriate systems and processes in place to deal with harmful content on their services to keep their users safe. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen by an independent regulator, which will have a range of enforcement powers. Alongside the White Paper, the government published the Social Media Code of Practice. This voluntary guidance sets out actions that the Government believes social media platforms should take to prevent bullying, insulting, intimidating and humiliating behaviours on their sites. Government has also asked the Law Commission to conduct a second phase of its review of the legal framework around abusive and offensive communications online. This will make specific recommendations for legal reform and is due to report in early 2021.

Social Media: Abuse and Intimidation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of online social media platforms in dealing with abuse and threats made on those platforms.

Matt Warman: We expect companies to do substantially more to keep their users safe and counter online abuse, particularly where this abuse is illegal. The Online Harms White Paper sets out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. We intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, to ensure companies have appropriate systems and processes in place to deal with harmful content on their services to keep their users safe. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen by an independent regulator, which will have a range of enforcement powers.

Internet: Advertising

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral statement of her predecessor of 12 February 2019, Official Report, column 773, for what reasons the terms of reference of the review of how online advertising is regulated have not yet been published; when she plans to publish details of that review; whether that review will include consideration of the effect of online advertising on young people’s wellbeing and the planet’s natural resources; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Adams: Since the previous Secretary of State announced the DCMS review into how online advertising is regulated in the UK, my department has established a team to take this work forward, including further evidence gathering and stakeholder engagement. This review will identify and address the systemic social and economic challenges that arise from online advertising. It will consider a range of options to ensure the UK's approach to regulating online advertising is fit for purpose, including measures to ensure users are sufficiently protected from harm. The review will complement and build on other relevant work underway across government and in external organisations, which are due to report in the winter. This includes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study into online platforms and digital advertising, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation report on online targeting and the Information Commissioner’s Office’s work on adtech. Further details will be set out in due course.

Charitable Trusts

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage more (a) female, (b) BAME and (c) working class people to become charity trustees.

Nicky Morgan: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Charitable Trusts

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of (a) female, (b) BAME and (c) working class charity trustees.

Nicky Morgan: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Media: Harassment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on anonymous abuse and threats on (a) Twitter and (b) other online platforms.

Matt Warman: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Ceramics: Staffordshire

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that ceramics companies in North Staffordshire are able to avoid delays in getting raw materials to factories and avoid incurring additional costs when exporting goods in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Nadhim Zahawi: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from the UK automotive sector on the potential effect on car production levels of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Nadhim Zahawi: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Natural Gas: Safety

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans she has to amend the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 to enable more than 0.1 per cent hydrogen in the gas network.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Natural Gas: Safety

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of replacing the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 with the industry standard developed by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Energy Performance Certificates

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans she has to undertake a review of Energy Performance Certificates to ensure that they include the potential energy saving of heat pumps.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Secondment

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff in her Department are on secondment from private sector companies in the petroleum industry; and if she will publish the number of secondments by company.

Nadhim Zahawi: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Fiddler's Ferry Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date for Fiddler’s Ferry GT Power Station is.

Kwasi Kwarteng: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1st October 2019 to Question 290419.

Ratcliffe Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date for Ratcliffe GT Power Station is.

Kwasi Kwarteng: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1st October 2019 to Question 290420.

Business: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment she has made of the effect of leaving the EU without a deal on the availability of jobs in a) the automotive industry, b) the pharmaceutical industry and c) the retail industry in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Kelly Tolhurst: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Electricity Generation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer: HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions paragraph 5, what steps her Department is taking to safeguard electricity supply in the event of participants exiting the energy market in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Energy: Meters

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to help ensure households who (a) don't want and (b) are unable to have a smart meter installed can access the cheapest available energy deals.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Experiments: Dogs

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report entitled, Attitudes to Animal Research 2018 published in May 2019, what her policy is on the use of dogs in medical research.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Public Attitudes to Animal Research report is published every two years and presents the findings of a survey on public awareness of, and attitudes towards, the use of animals in scientific research. The report is commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and supports policy development and public engagement across government and the life science sector on this area. The Government understands the concerns that many people have about the use of animals such as dogs for research purposes. For this reason, dogs are given special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that regulates their use in scientific procedures. Advances in biomedical science and technologies – including stem cell research, in vitro systems that mimic the function of human organs, imaging and new computer modelling techniques – are all providing new opportunities to reduce reliance on the use of animals in research, including dogs. The Government supports these developments through funding for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

Electricity Generation

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how the Government plans to meet the projected shortfall in electricity supply by 2050 while achieving net zero-emissions targets;  what changes to Government policy will be required; what energy mix will provide the best value for money for the taxpayer to meet that shortfall; and how much of that growth in electricity output will come from onshore wind power.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of her Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Kelly Tolhurst: Details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published on the Gov.uk website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2019.

Chris Skidmore: Since taking office, the Secretary of State had meetings with the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) in her department twice in this period.

Renewable Energy: Carbon Emissions

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many tonnes of carbon dioxide were displaced by renewable (a) electricity and (b) heat generation in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Wales in (A) 2016, (B) 2017 and (C) 2018.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has not estimated how many tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions for electricity and heat generation have been displaced using renewable sources, as without renewable sources the mix of other sources would have differed.Statistics on UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are published annually by BEIS. The statistics are broken down by source sector.Final statistics covering GHG emissions up to 2017 broken down by source sector can be found in table 3 of the publication: Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics 1990-2017.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-2017Equivalent statistics for England, Scotland and Wales up to 2017 are available on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) website.https://naei.beis.gov.uk/reports/reports?report_id=991Provisional statistics covering carbon dioxide emissions up to 2018 broken down by source sector can be found in table 1 of the publication: Provisional UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics 2018.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-2018

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sanitary Products: Plastics

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with feminine hygiene manufactures on the removal of plastics from all women’s sanitary products.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



On 16 April this year, the Government announced it will fully fund a scheme to provide access to free period products in schools and colleges in England. We are developing this scheme in conjunction with schools and 16-19 education providers to ensure it best meets the needs of all learners. We are committed to encouraging the use of sustainable products where possible and will work with stakeholders to explore whether this can be integrated into the scheme. In addition, in light of the period poverty initiative, NHS Supply Chain plans to widen the scope of the sanitary products available to the NHS. This will include focusing on providing more sustainable, non-plastic products such as menstrual cups and washable sanitary towels. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to reduce plastic pollution and to move towards a more circular economy. The strategy outlines the actions we will take to encourage producers to take more responsibility for the lifespan of their products and make sure these are more carefully designed with resource efficiency and waste prevention in mind. Our ambition is to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste throughout the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan, and for the most problematic plastics we are going faster. We have already made good progress and will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking (a) to improve the time taken to allocate grants under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EHVS) and (b) make the grant allocation process under the EHVS easier for installers.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EHVS) has been available since October 2016, providing a grant of up to £500 towards the cost of a home chargepoint for purchasers of new or second hand eligible electric vehicles. Demand has increased significantly which has led to the Office of Low Emission Vehicles processing a higher than usual number of applications. As the market for electric vehicles continues to grow the Government will keep the scheme under review and implement operational improvements where appropriate. While reviewing the scheme we will take into consideration the views and needs of motorists and chargepoint installers.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the share of the miners' pension scheme’s surplus that goes to former miners.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Solar Power: Statistics

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Ofgem is able to collate accurate data on the installation of solar power units.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



The Solar photovoltaics deployment report, published on the gov.uk website, provides information on solar photovoltaic capacity in the United Kingdom. It currently includes solar installations reported in BEIS' major power producers survey, the Renewable Energy Planning Database, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme database, and those subsidised by the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariff, and Contracts for Difference. It does not currently include unsubsidised solar installations below 1MW capacity that are not registered on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme database, although we are reviewing data sources to improve coverage.

Fuel Poverty

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households were in fuel poverty in the UK in 2018.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Fuel poverty is a devolved issue, with each nation in the UK having its own fuel poverty definition. Due to both definitional and methodological differences, fuel poverty is not published for the UK level.Latest data for each of the four nations is available at the following links:England: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-fuel-poverty-statistics-report-2019Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-house-condition-survey-2017-key-findings/Wales: https://gov.wales/fuel-poverty-estimates-walesNorthern Ireland: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/estimates-of-fuel-poverty-in-northern-ireland-in-2017-and-2018

Retail Trade

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps her Department has taken to support high street retailers.

Kelly Tolhurst: Government wants all types of retail to thrive, and we are supporting the sector as it responds to change. This is why we established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to help the sector address key sector issues and define its future strategy. The Council is prioritising its work to address the key challenges facing the sector and is focussing on; costs to business, skills and lifelong learning, employment protection, consumer protection, the circular economy and the Industrial Strategy. The priority areas were selected by the industry and each workstream is being led by a senior industry figure. In July 2019, the Prime Minister set out this Government’s plan to unite and level up cities, towns, coastal and rural areas across our country. He announced a £3.6 billion Towns Fund to set out his vision to re-energise local economies so that everyone can share in a new era of prosperity. This included £1 billion for the Future High Streets Fund, which will support local areas in England to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability. Finally, we are supporting local leadership with a High Streets Task Force, giving high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive. This will provide hands-on support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will list the offshore wind farm constraint payments made by the National Grid Electricity Systems Operator in each month since April 2019.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average value of constraint payments made by National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (NGESO) was to (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind energy companies in each month since NGESO was created.

Kwasi Kwarteng: National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) publishes details of constraint payments by generation type in its ‘Monthly Balancing Services Summary’, which is available at: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/balancing-data/system-balancing-reports The addition published on 30 September 2019 contains the latest data on constraint payments made since NGESO was created on 1st April 2019, and the sections on ‘Constraint actions by fuel type’ and ‘Wind generation’ are most relevant. Detailed information on constraint payments to individual generation projects is published by Elexon, and is available at: https://www.bmreports.com/bmrs/?q=balancing/

Wind Power: Subsidies

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average subsidy payment per megawatt hour of energy produced was to (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind companies in each month since January 2017.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The average subsidy payment (1)(2)(3) to onshore and offshore wind companies per megawatt hour of electricity produced each month was:  Onshore wind (£/MWh)Offshore wind  (£/MWh)Jan 201752.0484.87Feb 201751.7684.93Mar 201751.3184.67Apr 201752.2687.71May 201752.3088.28Jun 201752.2688.63Jul 201751.8188.75Aug 201752.0789.72Sep 201752.2189.16Oct 201751.9289.93Nov 201752.2189.67Dec 201751.6488.87Jan 201851.5089.84Feb 201851.4789.43Mar 201851.5988.45Apr 201852.7993.45May 201852.6493.35Jun 201853.7993.37Jul 201853.2793.36Aug 201852.5192.97Sep 201852.9891.85Oct 201852.5692.10Nov 201852.3892.41Dec 201852.3892.11Jan 201952.0692.68Feb 201951.9395.10Mar 201952.8395.88 (1) Subsidies are the Renewables Obligation, Contracts for Difference (CfD), and Feed-in Tariff (FIT). The bulk of the above support is from the Renewables Obligation. Going forward, we expect the average subsidy payment figures to fall as more projects are supported under the competitive Contracts for Difference scheme*.(2) Includes payments to domestic and community FIT schemes for onshore wind.(3) Spend is in real terms.For the Renewables Obligation, the full value of support is made up of a main payment and a much smaller subsidiary payment. As the value of the subsidiary payment is not yet known for any of the years, the above figures include only the main payment.Data for April 2019 onwards are not yet available.*The results of the third Contracts for Difference auction were announced on 20 September 2019. 12 new renewable electricity projects were awarded CfDs (6 offshore wind, 4 Remote Island Wind and two Advanced Conversion Technology projects), adding around 6GW of new clean electricity to the grid from 2023. The costs of offshore wind have come down by around two thirds since the first allocation round in 2015, with projects now being delivered for as little as £39.65/MWh. This is the first time that renewables are expected to come online below market prices.

Electricity: Storage

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when she plans to respond to her Department's consultation on proposals regarding the planning system for electricity storage.

Kwasi Kwarteng: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Post Offices: Burglary

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) break-ins and (b) robberies at Post Offices there have been  in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland, and (d) each region of England in each month in each of the last three years.

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support (a) the UK Government, and (b) Post Office Ltd is providing to sub-Postmasters to (i) prevent break-ins and robberies and (b) mitigate the financial and emotional effect of break-ins and robberies.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010. This funding allows branches to be modernised to meet consumer’s evolving needs, whilst ensuring the safety and security within branches. I have asked Nick Read, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Manufacturing Industries: Northern Ireland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions her Department has had with Manufacturing Northern Ireland on preparations for (a) the UK leaving the EU without a deal and (b) the UK leaving the EU under the Prime Minister’s proposals announced on 3 October 2019.

Nadhim Zahawi: Ministers and officials from BEIS have engaged extensively with manufacturing businesses. We have stepped up efforts to ensure businesses across the UK, including in Northern Ireland, are prepared to leave the EU on 31 October, through enhanced national communication and engagement campaigns. Get Ready Roadshow events took place in Derry/Londonderry on 7 October and in Belfast on 8 October. Through the Business Readiness Fund, funding has been allocated for actions specifically delivered and targeted in Northern Ireland – in addition to UK wide applications covering Northern Ireland.

Business

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what impact assessment has been prepared by her Department (a) from 1 January 2018 to 23 July 2019 and (b) since 23 July 2019 after discussions at EU XTP and EU XTPO committees on business supply chains as part of preparations for Operation Kingfisher; and if she will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.

Nadhim Zahawi: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Smallholdings

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have sold off (a) all and (b) more than 50 per cent of  council smallholdings since 1997.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 02 May 2019






An error has been identified in the written answer given on 03 May 2019.The correct answer should have been:

This information is not held centrally.Records held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that in 1997 a total area of 119,977 hectares was held for smallholdings purposes by local authorities in England. Data on land held for smallholdings purposes by individual local authorities in 1997 is unavailable. A recent report published by Defra records that, at 31 March 2018, the total area of land held by 43 reporting smallholdings authorities in England was 89,020 hectares (for the whole estate), of which 83,600 hectares were let as smallholdings (for 40 reporting authorities).

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 02 May 2019



This information is not held centrally.Records held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that in 1997 a total area of 119,977 hectares was held for smallholdings purposes by local authorities in England. Data on land held for smallholdings purposes by individual local authorities in 1997 is unavailable. A recent report published by Defra records that, at 31 March 2018, the total area of land held by 43 reporting smallholdings authorities in England was 89,020 hectares (for the whole estate), of which 83,600 hectares were let as smallholdings (for 40 reporting authorities).

Social Rented Housing

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to set a delivery target and an investment plan to support that target for social rent homes.

Esther McVey: The government is committed to increasing the supply of social housing and has made £9 billion available through the Affordable Homes Programme to March 2022 to deliver approximately 250,000 new affordable homes for a wide range of tenures. This includes at least 12,500 homes for social rent to meet the needs of struggling families and those most at risk of homelessness in areas of the country where affordability is most pressured. This is the minimum number of social rent homes we expect to be delivered – the programme is flexible and the precise number will depend on the bids that are received for the funding.We previously announced an additional £2 billion of long-term funding certainty for housing associations. This extra funding will deliver more affordable homes and stimulate the sector’s wider building ambitions, through strategic partnerships. On 27 June 2019, bidding was opened on £1 billion of this funding through Homes England. We are working closely with the Greater London Authority to open bidding on £1 billion for London as soon as possible. Our ten-year funding commitment through strategic partnerships marks the first time any government has invested such long-term funding in new homes through housing associations.We have also removed the Housing Revenue Account borrowing caps for local authorities and have set out a long-term rent deal for councils and housing associations in England from 2020. Housing associations and local authorities now need to accelerate delivery and build more affordable homes.Since 2010 there has been an increase in the number of homes for social rent by 79,000, in contrast to the decline between 1997 and 2010, whilst the Right to Buy for council tenants has been preserved.Investment in social rent homes beyond the current programme will be decided as part of the forthcoming spending review.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Consultation

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which of his Department's consultations have not been (a) completed and (b) analysed and responded to; and on what date those consultations (a) commenced, (b) closed and (c) are expected to report.

Jake Berry: As set out on Gov.uk, MHCLG currently has 33 live consultations. Of these, 25 consultations have closed and the Department intends to respond in due course. 8 consultations are open. They are: Homelessness Reduction Act 2017: call for evidence A new deal for renting: resetting the balance of rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants The Future Homes Standard: Changes to Part L and Part F of the Buildings Regulations for new dwellings Review of local authority financial reporting and external audit: call for views Local Government Finance Settlement 2020 to 2021: technical consultation Rogue landlord database reform Sprinklers and other fire safety measures in new high-rise blocks of flats Proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage

Social Services: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.11 of Spending Round 2019, how the £1 billion in funding for social care will be distributed between (a) adult and (b) children's social care.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.11 of Spending Round 2019, how much additional funding will be allocated to each local authority in England for children's social care.

Luke Hall: Proposals for distribution of the Social Care Grant in 2020-21 have now been put to the sector in a technical consultation, published on 3 October https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-finance-settlement-2020-to-2021-technical-consultation.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons his Department has not issued a call for samples of building materials used in (a) external wall materials and (b) insulation of high rise buildings as part of the recent data collection exercise on external wall systems in high-rise residential buildings.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 30 September 2019



The Department’s data collection exercise is aimed at enabling the government to build a picture of external wall systems in use on high rise residential buildings. This exercise will collect data on residential buildings 18 metres and over covering private and social buildings, student accommodation and hotels. There are currently no plans to call for samples of building material or insulation as part of the data gathering exercise.However, as part of the Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) screening program funded by the government, the Building Research Establishment has been requested to catalogue samples which are identified as non-ACM materials as detailed in the response to Question UIN 234718 on 27 March 2019.

Help to Buy Scheme: Costs

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the (a) projected annual net costs of Help to Buy from its inception until 2021-22 as set out in the original business case, (b) actual annual net costs from inception until 2018-2019, and (c) current projected net costs until 2021-22.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Empty Property: West Midlands

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of empty homes in (a) the West Midlands region, (b) City of Wolverhampton local authority area and (c) Wolverhampton North East constituency in each year since 2010; and what steps he is taking the reduce the number of empty homes.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 30 September 2019



The most recent estimate of the number of long-term empty homes shows that at October 2018 there were 10,084 homes that had been empty for more than six months in the West Midlands Metropolitan County, and 1,401 that had been empty for more than six months in the City of Wolverhampton. Statistics on vacant dwellings in England and in each local authority district, from which regional totals may be calculated, are published in the Department's live table 615 which is available at the link below. This table shows the annual total numbers of empty homes, those vacant for longer than six months and also vacant properties in the local authority, housing association and other public sector tenures. Statistics on vacant dwellings at parliamentary constituency level are not centrally collected Local authorities are equipped with powers and have strong incentives to tackle empty homes. Since 1 April 2019, via the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, local authorities have the discretion to increase the maximum level of premium charged on properties that have been empty for more than two years from 50 per cent to 100 per cent extra council tax. Through the New Homes Bonus, local authorities earn the same financial reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one. In certain circumstances, local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) to temporarily take over the management of a property that has been empty for more than two years in order to bring it back into use.   https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the fires at Samuel Garside House in Barking Riverside, Beechmere retirement complex in Crewe and Sherbrooke Way in Worcester Park, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the use of timber cladding in residential buildings.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 30 September 2019



It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason all leaseholders of buildings with Aluminium Composite Cladding must sign a State Aid Declaration for the building to be eligible to apply to his Department's private sector ACM cladding remediation fund.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 30 September 2019



State Aid declarations are needed because they assist the government in ensuring the fund complies with the requirements of EU state aid rules; this is the basis on which government is able to provide funding to the private sector. Fund applicants can begin the application process before all State Aid declarations have been received, and are strongly encouraged to do so.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the of Answer 23 July 2019 to Question 279062 on Buildings: Insulation, whether any burning had begun in large scale test in June 2019 that was aborted due to procedural issues.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 30 September 2019



Yes. The BS 8414 test involves a 9 metre high demonstration wall with a complete cladding system – including panels and insulation – fixed to it, being subjected to a fire that replicates a severe fire in a flat breaking out of a window. The tests look at whether the system resists fire spread up the wall. The test is started when a large wood crib is ignited, burns and flames affect the wall build up directly above. The large scale test in June 2019 was started before being aborted due to procedural issues.The general behaviour of observed before the procedural issue was similar to that observed and recorded during the test carried out in July 2019 the report of this test is available at the following :https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-test-report-mhclg-bs-8414-hpl

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to conduct further large-scale fire safety tests on High Pressure Laminate Cladding.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to commission a large scale fire safety test on systems incorporating timber cladding.

Esther McVey: Acting on advice from the Expert Panel, the government has commissioned research from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to support further understanding of the fire performance of Non-Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) external wall systems. The Department has commissioned the BRE to undertake bespoke medium scale tests on timber cladding panels as part of the ongoing Non-ACM research.This programme began in April 2019 and the preliminary testing concluded in the Summer. This is now in an analysis phase and the research findings will be published in Autumn. Subject to the research findings, a decision will be made as to the testing of further materials used on external wall systems, including timber cladding.We currently have no plan to commission a large-scale fire safety test on system incorporating timber cladding or further High Pressure Laminates tests

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Gillian Keegan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Department is taking to promote the building of (a) passive houses and (b) eco-homes.

Esther McVey: The Department is committed to increasing the energy efficiency of new homes.The main way the Department seeks to do this is through Building Regulations. These set minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of new buildings and for work on existing buildings.In the government’s Clean Growth Strategy we committed to reviewing these standards, including consulting on improving energy efficiency requirements in new and existing homes where the evidence suggests it is cost effective, affordable, practical and safe to do so.To that end, the government has announced that this consultation is now open. This includes the proposed introduction of a Future Homes Standard by 2025 for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. We propose that new homes built to this standard should have 75-80 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than ones built to current building regulations standards.The National Planning Policy Framework also expects local planning authorities to take account of how new development will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as through its location, orientation and design. Planning practice guidance provides advice for local authorities and applicants on implementing these policies.The Department does recognise and support innovation and excellence in design. For example, the Minister of State for Housing recently visited the Goldsmith Street development in Norwich, which is built to the PassivHaus standard. At the Housing Design Awards, Goldsmith Street was the chosen Supreme Winner and winner of the Good Neighbour Award, a new category sponsored by MHCLG and agreed by the previous Housing MinisterThe government also launched a consultation on stronger building regulations that will pave the way for the Future Homes Standard. These 2020 changes aim to improve the environment by cutting carbon emissions in new homes by almost a third, while keeping household bills low. The Future Homes Standard consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-standard-changes-to-part-l-and-part-f-of-the-building-regulations-for-new-dwellings.

Households: Rents

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of rent levels on household income.

Esther McVey: The English Housing Survey provides data on the proportion of income that is spent on rent in both the Private Rented Sector and the Social Rented Sector. This information is available online:  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817630/EHS_2017-18_PRS_Report.pdf and https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/829741/EHS_SRS_report_revised_Sept_19.pdf'.

Regulator of Social Housing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2019 to Question 249189 on Regulator of Social Housing, how many respondents to the consultation on the Social Housing Green Paper in 2018 (a) supported and (b) rejected the proposal to consider removing the serious detriment test used to determine compliance with the Home Standard if it is a bar to a more proactive approach by the Regulator of Social Housing.

Esther McVey: We met over 500 residents and received over 1,000 responses to the Social Housing Green Paper consultation. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation and will publish the government's response in due course.

Housing Ombudsman Service: Complaints

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the average length of time was for the Housing Ombudsman Service to determine case complaints in the first three months of 2019-20; and how many complaints were dealt with within the six month target during that period.

Esther McVey: In order to ensure that residents receive a fair and impartial service, the Housing Ombudsman carefully reviews all available evidence when investigating and determining cases within their formal remit.Between April and June 2019-20, the Housing Ombudsman Service determined 502 cases with an average determination time of 6.8 months. The Housing Ombudsman Service does not have a specific target for the proportion of cases determined within six months. The target is an average to be achieved across the financial year reflecting that the Housing Ombudsman Service is a demand-led and the average case time will vary each month depending on the number of cases received, and the complexity of the peculiar case.

Housing: Access

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will (a) implement the recommendation of housing association Habinteg and make accessible and adaptable (M4(2) Category 2) the mandatory baseline for all new housing and (b) issue detailed guidance to local planning authorities on how they should reflect the housing needs of older and disabled people in their plans as required by the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing Associations

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing councils with the power to manage properties currently owned by housing associations.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 02 October 2019



No such assessment has been made. The government believes that both local authorities and housing associations have an important role to play in building and managing the affordable homes this country needs. Making housing associations subject to local authority control would result in them being reclassified to the public sector, thereby adding their debt (currently £77 billion) to the Public Sector Net Debt.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's data release entitled, Building Safety Programme: Monthly Data Release for August 2019, published on 12 September 2019, how many of the 1,494 non-ACM cladding samples held at the Building Research Establishment contain combustible materials.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's data release entitled, Building Safety Programme: Monthly Data Release for August 2019, published on 12 September 2019, how many of the 1,494 non-ACM cladding samples held at the Building Research Establishment are timber cladding.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's data release entitled, Building Safety Programme: Monthly Data Release for August 2019, published on 12 September 2019, if his Department will publish a full analysis of the 1,494 non-ACM cladding samples held at the Building Research Establishment.

Esther McVey: The screening programme set up after the Grenfell fire tragedy was focused on identifying the types of Aluminium Composite Materials (ACM) received. The samples held by the Building Research Establishment were submitted as part of this ACM screening program, to determine which category of ACM had been used in high-rise buildings. A detailed explanation of the screening tests is set out in this note published in June 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/explanatory-note-on-safety-checks-and-testing. To build a more complete picture of high-rise residential buildings and the variety of external wall systems in use, the Department started in July 2019 a data collection exercise to gather information on the external wall systems of high-rise residential buildings that are 18 metres or above.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who should bear the cost of remedial fire safety work such as fireproofing in a block of flats owned by a Housing Association with half social tenants and half leasehold tenants.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Buildings: Fire Prevention

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national buildings register of all high-risk buildings over 11m in height in England to store information such as construction materials used fire safety certification.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 03 October 2019



The government published its Building a Safer Future Consultation on proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system on 6 June. The consultation included proposals on establishing a register for buildings within scope of the new regime and proposals on construction products. The consultation included an analytical overview of the proposals. The government is considering the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason Ministers of his Department are unable to comment on specific buildings with cladding issues raised in correspondence dated 25 September 2019 with the hon. Member for Croydon North.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 03 October 2019



The Department provides general advice on building safety but does not offer advice on the safety of individual buildings. It is for building owners to ensure that their buildings are safe – and to seek appropriate professional advice as required. Advice Note 14 helps building owners take the most appropriate course of action should there be any concerns about their building’s external wall system. Local authorities and Fire and Rescue Services may take action on individual buildings where safety issues have been identified.

Housing: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of homes in England that have been valued at £0 because surveyors could not be sure that the cladding and insulation on the buildings were not flammable.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 03 October 2019



It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government has taken to reduce carbon emissions in the housing sector.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to reduce carbon emissions in the housing sector.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Affordable Housing and Social Rented Housing: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to increase the provision of (a) affordable and (b) social housing in (i) the North West, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) Wallasey.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 03 October 2019



It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Help to Buy Scheme: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes have been purchased through the Help to Buy scheme in (a) the North West, (b) Merseyside and (c) Wallasey in each of the last six years.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 03 October 2019



It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Affordable Housing: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will re-establish dedicated funding programmes for local authorities and housing providers to create affordable housing from long-term empty homes throughout England.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will undertake a review of how the legal powers available to local authorities to tackle empty homes and poor standards of management in the private rented sector could be improved.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will provide support for empty home prevention schemes by offering financial support to owners for sustainability measures and home improvements such as insulation measures designed to increase the longevity and environmental efficiency of existing homes.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will open funding programmes to tackle empty homes to community-led organisations who are not registered providers; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The Department has no current plans to establish funding programmes specifically targeted at renovating or preventing empty homes, nor to carry out a formal review of local authorities' powers in this respect. Local authorities are already equipped with a range of powers and strong incentives to tackle empty homes. Through the New Homes Bonus, they earn the same financial reward for bringing an empty home back into use as for building a new one. Since 1 April 2019, via the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, local authorities have the discretion to increase the maximum level of premium charged on properties that have been empty for more than two years from 50 per cent to 100 per cent extra council tax. In certain circumstances, local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) to temporarily take over the management of a property that has been empty for more than two years and bring it back into use.The number of long-term empty homes remains substantially lower than when records began. In October 2010, 299,999 homes in England had been standing empty for longer than 6 months; as of October 2018, there were 216,186 long-term empty properties. We do not have plans to make a further statement to the House on the issue at present.

Private Rented Housing: Electrical Safety

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to bring forward secondary legislation to implement mandatory electrical safety checks for the private rented sector.

Esther McVey: In July 2018, government committed to introducing mandatory five-yearly electrical safety inspections for electrical installations in privately rented properties. This will be achieved through secondary legislation, subject to parliamentary time. In the meantime, it remains best practice for landlords to ensure that the electrics in their properties are safe.

Housing: Empty Property

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how his Department identifies long-term empty homes; and how many long-term empty homes there were in England in each of the last three years.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Rented Housing: Electrical Safety

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce mandatory electrical safety checks in the social rented sector in England.

Esther McVey: Government is committed to ensuring that everyone is safe, and feels safe, in their home.We published our Green Paper, "A new deal for social housing", in August last year. It asked whether new safety measures in the private rented sector should apply to social housing, including the proposed mandatory requirement on private landlords to ensure electrical installations in their property are inspected every five years. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation and will publish our action plan for implementing social housing reform in due course.

Community Housing Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will extend the Community Housing Fund to beyond March 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Jake Berry: Following a recent recruitment exercise, Professor Alan Penn took up post as the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser on 5 September 2019. The Secretary of State will meet him shortly.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of his Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Jake Berry: Details of Ministers’ meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2017.

Jake Berry: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.

Jake Berry: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Affordable Housing: South Gloucestershire

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the revised Joint Spatial Plan for South Gloucestershire will not effect the building of affordable homes in the Filton and Bradley Stoke area.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Private Rented Housing: Pensioners

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who rented a home from a private landlord in each year since 2010; and how many and what proportion of pensioners renting from private landlords were in rent arrears in that time period.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



The English Housing Survey (EHS) collects and publishes data on the economic status of household reference person by tenure in Live Table FA1301. You can access this table from this page: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/tenure-trends-and-cross-tenure-analysis . This table shows the proportion of retirees in the private rented sector was between 7 per cent and 9 per cent throughout 2008-18.   The EHS does not publish data on the proportion of retirees in arrears.

Housing: Ombudsman Service

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the new homes ombudsman will be appointed.

Esther McVey: The government’s intention is to introduce legislation to ensure developers of new build homes belong to a New Homes Ombudsman. We have recently consulted on the design and delivery of a New Homes Ombudsman. The consultation closed in August and we are analysing the responses and will respond in due course. We will continue to work with industry and consumer groups to strengthen consumer protection for new build homeowners before legislation is put in place.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Luke Hall: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This government values its contribution immensely.The government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September to Question 286103 on Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, if he will name the organisations outside Government providing (a) public relations or engagement, (b) public affairs and (c) planning services in respect of the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre; and how much is being paid from the public purse to each organisation.

Jake Berry: The organisations and amounts paid are set out below: OrganisationServiceSpend to date from public purse including VATBig Ideas Community Interest CompanyCommunity engagement£69,296Dp9Planning services£0Four CommunicationsCommunications£70,748Newgate CommunicationsCommunications£0

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July to Question 280921 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, which individuals were members of the property sub-committee of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation from November 2015 to January 2016.

Jake Berry: UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation members Mr Peter Freeman and Mr Gerald Ronson CBE were members of the property sub-committee.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July to Question 280917 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, for what reason sites identified by means other than the CBRE were not brought to the CBRE’s attention to enable it to compare all potential sites.

Jake Berry: I refer my Rt Hon Friend to the answer to Question UIN 270267 of 27 June 2019, and remind the Rt Hon Gentleman that CBRE was only one element in the search for potential sites.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the terms of reference were for the CBRE’s search for potential sites for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Jake Berry: To carry out an extensive search for potential sites for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in line with the criteria set by the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July to Question 280917 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, how many potential sites not among sites identified by the CBRE were identified by (a) Royal Parks, (b) Holocaust commemorative and educational organisations, (c) property owners and developers, (e) property agents, (f) London Borough authorities, (g) universities (h) museums and (i) cultural centres; and on what dates those potential sites were reported to the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation.

Jake Berry: As set out in the answer to Question UIN 229625 on 14 March 2019, almost 50 sites were identified by a wide range stakeholders and considered by the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation during the latter part of 2015.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 270267 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, for what reason paragraphs 4.20 to 4.23 of the Planning Statement submitted by his Department to Westminster Council do not refer to the elements in the property search other than that by the CBRE.

Jake Berry: The approach prior to appointment of CBRE is described in paragraphs 4.1.1-4.1.4 of the environmental statement.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July to Question 280917 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, how many sites in addition to the 24 identified by the CBRE were considered by the board of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation for the first time on 13 January 2016.

Jake Berry: At its meeting on 13 January 2016 the Foundation reviewed the progress of the site search and concluded that there could be no better site than Victoria Tower Gardens to place the Holocaust Memorial.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2019 to Question 280920 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, for what reason that Answer did not provide the information requested on communications with Royal Parks.

Jake Berry: Question UIN 280920 tabled by the Rt Hon Member for Gainsborough on 23 July 2019 was capable of inadvertently misrepresenting the government’s January 2016 statement. The answer sought to remove any ambiguity.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July to Question 280914 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, if he will publish the operating models the United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation is considering to cover the running costs of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Jake Berry: The Foundation has yet to complete its consideration of options.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of 15 and 31 July 2019 to Questions 274442 and 280922 on National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, on what date in November 2015 the property sub-committee of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation was asked to undertake a search of Government sites.

Jake Berry: The search for possible sites began in July 2015.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of lawn area in Victoria Tower Gardens which will be taken for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Jake Berry: It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy not to introduce security checks for visitors to Victoria Tower Gardens other than people visiting the Memorial and Learning Centre after that centre has opened.

Jake Berry: In common with other public places in Westminster there will be no security checks for visitors to Victoria Tower Gardens.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the criteria used by his Department to determine that up to 75.5 per cent of the cost of construction of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre should be funded directly by the Government.

Jake Berry: It has not proved possible to respond to the rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mass Media: Muslims

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Integrated Communities Action Plan published in February 2019, whether his Department has facilitated meetings between the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group and Independent Press Standards Organisation to help them to develop guidance for editors and journalists to tackle unnecessary negative portrayals of Muslims in the media.

Luke Hall: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is responsible for allocating funding for local welfare assistance schemes.

Luke Hall: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



Responsibility for funding for local welfare provision was passed over from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) from April 2013. The MHCLG would lead on any changes in allocation with input from the DWP.

Derelict Land

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with developers to encourage them to build on brownfield sites.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Owner Occupation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the proportion of home ownership was in (a) England, (b) Surrey and (c) Woking constituency in each of the last three years.

Esther McVey: The English Housing Survey collects data on home ownership in England, broken down by region. This information is detailed in Annex Table 1.2 of the most recent headline report. Figures for the whole of England are detailed in Annex Table 1.1. You can access both tables using this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2017-to-2018-headline-reportIn summary, for the most recent three years of data, the proportion of households in England that were home owners was between 63-64 per cent. The proportion of home owners in the South East for the same period was 68 per centWe do not hold data on home ownership rates by constituency.

Parking: Codes of Practice

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the new Code of Practice for parking in England, Wales, and Scotland.

Luke Hall: The government is committed to developing and implementing the Code of Practice as soon as possible. We are currently considering the options for the delivery of the Code and the design of the levy on industry, as well as the format for stakeholder engagement. We will make an announcement in due course. We are also committed to carrying out a public consultation on the draft Code of Practice, allowing all interested parties to directly respond to the proposals.

Religious Hatred: Islam

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to tackle Islamophobia.

Luke Hall: The government does not tolerate hatred of any kind and is taking a number of steps to tackle Islamophobia. We have some of the strongest legislation in the world to tackle hate crime and where groups incite racial hatred or are engaged in racially or religiously motivated criminal activity, we would expect them to be prosecuted.To support security training for places of worship, we have committed £1.6 million through the places of worship security grant this year. and a further £5 million over three years. We have also supported Tell MAMA with over £2.5 million between 2016 and 2020 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred, and committed £1.5 million in new funding for hate crime projects including those tackling anti-Muslim hatred and racism in schools.The government will also be appointing independent advisers to provide expert advice to government on a definition of Islamophobia. The first of these advisers, Imam Qari Asim MBE, was appointed on the 23 July 2019. Their work will draw on a wide range of opinions and they will work in close collaboration with the cross-government Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group.

Leasehold

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to provide assistance to leaseholders who were misled on property purchases.

Esther McVey: The previous Secretary of State wrote to the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) on 26 November 2018 and 1 April 2019 to encourage them to undertake work into mis-selling in the leasehold housing market.The government welcomed the CMA announcement on 11 June to open an investigation in this area. The CMA is concerned about potential leasehold mis-selling, and whether leasehold contract terms are onerous and unfair in relation to ground rent, permission and other charges. If the CMA thinks that a company’s practices are misleading – or that its contracts contain unfair clauses – it could take enforcement action to require the company to change how they operate. We look forward to hearing progress on the CMA’s work later this year.The government has also worked with National Trading Standards who have published guidance to help clarify the rights and responsibilities around owning a leasehold property, and practical steps for individuals to take in the event things go wrong.

Planning Permission: Fees and Charges

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of TerraQuest Ltd's partnership with his Department to run the planning portal on fees charged on that portal.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing: Construction

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to increase the rate of housebuilding.

Esther McVey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing: Domestic Abuse

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation on Domestic abuse services: future delivery of support to victims and their children in accommodation-based domestic abuse services, which closed on 2 August 2019, when the response to that consultation will be published.

Luke Hall: My Department will be publishing the government response to the consultation ‘Future delivery of support to victims and their children in accommodation-based domestic abuse services’ shortly.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of his Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Johnny Mercer: There are no records of meetings between Ministry of Defence (MOD) Ministers and Mr Crispin Odey. However, the MOD publishes in arrears details of Ministers' meetings on a quarterly basis at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-ministry-of-defenceThe following details can be found in the returns:The date the Minister attended the meetingThe name of the organisation or individuals who attended the meetingThe purpose of the meetingPlease note that phone calls are not covered in these disclosures.

International Military Services: Finance

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons IMS Ltd changed its auditors in 2016 after 30 years alongside the implementation date of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The appointment of auditors is a matter for IMS Ltd as a private company.

International Military Services: Expenditure

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons IMS Ltd paid a dividend of £5 million in 2010 to the Secretary of State for Defence; and for what purposes that money was used.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Any dividends from investments are allocated in line with our normal financial and capability planning processes.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to recruit and retain service personnel.

Mark Lancaster: The Government is committed to maintaining the overall size of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces continue to meet all their current commitments, keeping the country and its interests safe. They are fully funded to meet their target strength and we continue to increase funding to Defence year on year.The Armed Forces have active and targeted recruitment campaigns which are proving effective; intake to the UK Regular Armed Forces was 13,520 in the 12 months to 1 July 2019, an increase of 13.4% compared with the same period in 2018.Outflow from the Regular Armed Forces was 14,880 in the 12 months to July 2019, remaining constant with the same period last year. However, we are not complacent; we closely monitor the impact of Service life on individuals, particularly in areas where there are shortages. Each Service has developed plans to manage this and the proportion of personnel who breach their Service harmony guidelines has reduced across all Services and ranks for the last five years, reflecting the innovative approaches and pro-active management of this issue.

Defence: Manufacturing Industries

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to maintain the capabilities of UK defence manufacturing.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: On 14 March 2019 (HCWS1411), we provided an update to Parliament on our ambitious Defence Prosperity Programme which includes work to sustain an internationally competitive and productive UK Defence sector. Since the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review introduced a new National Security Objective to Promote UK Prosperity we have published strategies for Shipbuilding and Combat Air and refreshed our Defence Industrial Policy with a new emphasis on supporting growth and competitiveness.

Armed Forces: Training

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of recruits undertaking physical training courses.

Johnny Mercer: We take our duty of care to our personnel very seriously, but risk is inherent in many activities carried out by the Armed Forces. This risk is rendered as low as reasonably practicable during training by ensuring that its design and delivery are subject to strict safety procedures and rigorous risk analysis. Training programmes are also subject to internal or external assurance and audit inspections including by OFSTED.On 1 April 2015, we established the Defence Safety Authority which brings together the Defence Safety Regulators and the Accident Investigation Branch, providing independent assurance to the Secretary of State in accordance with his health, safety and environmental policy statement.

Armed Forces: Sick Leave

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of level of sickness absence among women in the armed forces in the latest period for which figures are available.

Johnny Mercer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes the health and wellbeing of its personnel very seriously. A Health and Wellbeing Strategy for all MOD employees, military and civilian, was published in mid-2015 (updated in August 2016) and is designed to provide guidance to the Chain of Command and civilian line managers on how to manage the health needs, both mental and physical, of their people. The aim is to maximise the number of people fit to work, managing people back to work after a period of sickness, so that they are fit and able to meet the requirements of Defence outputs, including operational effectiveness.Whilst the MOD records the medical employability and deployability of Service personnel, more specific information about the level of sickness absence among women - or men - in the Armed Forces is not held centrally. As at 1 May 2019, medical employability for the trained UK Armed Forces was 98 per cent, with a male:female split of 98:97% respectively.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department was informed that the Saudi Arabian land forces had been deployed to Yemen.

Mark Lancaster: The Saudi Arabian authorities do not routinely inform us of their military deployments.

Scotland Office

Cash Dispensing: Scotland

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that people are able to access free-to-use cash machines throughout Scotland.

Mr Alister Jack: I have regular discussions on important Scottish economic matters with my Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Technology has transformed banking for millions of people, but we know that many still rely on cash. That is why we are co-ordinating work across government, regulators and industry so we can protect access for everyone who needs it. LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network, has publicly committed to maintain the broad geographic spread of ATMs and has put in place specific arrangements to protect remote free-to-use ATMs one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. More recently, LINK has committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets – where there is a cluster of five or more retailers – that do not have a free-to-use ATM or a Post Office counter within 1 kilometre.

Public Sector: Scotland

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment his Department has made of public satisfaction with public services in Scotland.

Mr Alister Jack: In a recent Scottish Government Household survey, we see that public satisfaction in health, schools, education and public transport in Scotland has dropped to 51.7%, its lowest level since 2007, which is extremely disappointing. These policy areas are devolved to the Scottish Government and they must do more to improve public services for the people of Scotland.

Occupational Pensions: Scotland

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Department for Work and Pensions on the effect of section 75 of the Pensions Act 1995 on (a) plumbing pensions and (b) multi-employer pension schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Alister Jack: My Department works closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of issues that are relevant to Scotland. The Government believes that the existing arrangements provide sufficient flexibility for employers to manage their section 75 debts and that maintaining the current calculation method is the most viable way of ensuring that members receive their pension benefits over the longer term.

Department for International Trade

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to her letter dated 16 September 2019 to the Chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls, how the breaches of the undertaking given to the Court by the Secretary of State in the Order of the Court dated 20 June 2019 took place; and what steps she is taking to ensure no further breaches take place.

Graham Stuart: As my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade said in her statement to Parliament on 26th September, as soon as the issue was brought to her attention on the 12th September, she took immediate action:Taking immediate steps to inform the Court and Parliament;Putting in place immediate, interim procedures to make sure the error could not happen again;Instigating a complete and full internal review of all licences granted for Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners since 20 June;The Permanent Secretary commissioned, on her behalf, a full independent investigation.This investigation will: (i) establish the precise circumstances in which these licences were granted; (ii) establish whether any other licences have been granted in breach of the Undertaking to the Court or the commitment to Parliament; and (iii) confirm that procedures are in place to ensure that no further such breaches can occur. The Director General Policy Group at the Department for Work and Pensions has been appointed to lead this investigation.During the course of this investigation, licence applications for Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners will be referred to a new weekly meeting of senior officials from the Department for International Trade, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence. (Some will have been refused by this point, for example where they fail to meet one or more of the Consolidated Criteria.) This meeting will reach a recommendation for Ministers as to whether applications are within the scope of the Undertaking and the Parliamentary Statement, applying a further checklist of questions which are designed to ensure that: (i) current and full information is available to enable an assessment of whether the items in question are for possible use in the conflict in Yemen; and (ii) if there has been any change in circumstances in the conflict in Yemen, this is properly included in the assessment. All recommendations to grant licences for the export of items to Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners will now be referred to Ministers for decision.

Department for International Trade: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Conor Burns: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade did not meet the Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 June and 31 August 2019. However, the Chief Scientific Adviser is closely involved in policy development and meets regularly with the Permanent Secretary, members of the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Executive Committee and many other senior officials more broadly both within DIT and across Government.

Overseas Investment: Brazil

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that UK companies investing in Brazil do not contribute to deforestation in the Amazon.

Conor Burns: As we prepare for our independent trade policy, the UK Government is committed to upholding the UK’s high environmental standards. The Government is exploring all options in the design of future trade and investment agreements, including possible environment provisions. The UK remains committed to protecting the world’s rainforests and will continue to do so in Brazil through International Climate Finance programmes. We believe the key to reducing deforestation is to work in partnership with Brazil and through HMG programmes the UK Government has committed £131 million to support REDD Early Movers, Rural Sustentavel and Partnerships for Forests. The UK government recently committed a further £10 million in support.

Department for International Trade: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Conor Burns: The Department for International Trade hosts a number of national events throughout the year in order to support business to grow internationally, ensure the UK remains the leading destination for international investment, and to promote open markets and a free and fair trade policy. The Department invites attendees on the basis of their relevance to these objectives, and focuses primarily on business, diplomatic, and policy representatives as well as organisations that represent civil society, particularly those that reflect interests across consumer, trade union, academia, regional and devolved areas.

Foreign Investment in UK

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what guidance his Department issues to foreign companies planning to invest in the UK.

Graham Stuart: The Department for International Trade (DIT) plays a critical role in promoting the UK as the natural choice for overseas investment. The Department provides support to inward investors who wish to set up in the UK. These services range from providing information, guidance and support on the UK business environment, to access to finance, talent and skills, visas and migration, research and innovation, and sector experts. DIT also provides an end-to-end service for investors, through initiatives such as the Strategic Relationship Management Programme, both in the UK and overseas, working with colleagues across government, in London, UK regions and Devolved Administrations. This suite of services helps investors prosper and succeed, which in turn leads them to reinvest further in the UK. The UK has the highest stock of FDI of any nation in Europe.

Overseas Trade: India

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to increase trade with the Indian state of Gujarat; and if she will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to increase trade with India; and if she will she make a statement.

Conor Burns: The UK enjoys a strong trade relationship with India. Total trade in goods and services between the UK and India reached over £20bn in the period July 2018 to March 2019. The Department for International Trade promotes UK trade interests through our overseas network. This includes Gujarat State where we have a team based at the Deputy High Commission in Ahmedabad. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade also leads a Joint Economic & Trade Committee in which ministers discuss the removal of market access barriers and means to increasing bilateral trade.

European Free Trade Association: Trade Agreements

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to issue guidance to businesses on the extent of the continuity of EU Free Trade Agreements with EFTA countries after the UK leaves the EU.

Conor Burns: The Government is committed to ensuring that businesses are prepared for the UK to leave the EU on 31 October. This includes accurate, up-to-date information on how the trading environment will change and guidance on actions they need to take. Guidance for business on the trade continuity agreements signed with EFTA states is available on GOV.UK. This includes the text of the agreement, a summary document and a Parliamentary Reports, which explains any significant changes from existing terms.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-with-non-eu-countries-in-a-no-deal-brexit#trade-agreements-that-have-been-signed Furthermore, No Deal export guides in a No Deal scenario are also available for Switzerland, Norway and Iceland:Exporting to Switzerland: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exporting-to-switzerland-after-eu-exitExporting to Norway: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exporting-to-norway-after-eu-exitExporting to Iceland: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exporting-to-iceland-after-eu-exit A summary of the UK-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Trade Agreement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/summary-of-the-uk-switzerland-liechtenstein-trade-agreement This guidance is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is up-to-date and provides businesses with relevant advice.

Export Guarantees Advisory Council

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings the Export Guarantees Advisory Council has had since December 2017; and when she plans to publish the minutes of those meetings.

Conor Burns: The Export Guarantees Advisory Council has formally met 6 times since December 2017. Minutes of the meetings held in 2018 have been published on its website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/export-guarantees-advisory-council/about/our-governance#minutes). Minutes of meetings held in 2019 will be published in the next calendar year. UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) Annual Report and Accounts includes a report from the Council which lists the number of meetings it has held and a summary of the issues that the Council considered. These Annual Report and Accounts are presented to Parliament and published on UKEF’s website (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-annual-reports-and-accounts).

Overseas Trade: Israel

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what  recent assessment has she made of the level of potential opportunities for (a) export and (b) trade with Israel.

Graham Stuart: Israel remains a strategic priority for UK trade with total trade in goods and services between the UK and Israel totalling £4.2bn in 2019. Total UK exports to Israel amounted to £2.4bn in 2019 and our Embassy team in Tel Aviv, supported by the Department for International Trade (DIT) team in London and across the UK, continues to support and engage with business on a daily basis both to assess and realise potential opportunities for UK business in line with the Export Strategy, the government’s plan to increase UK total exports as a proportion of GDP to 35% and make Britain a 21st century exporting superpower. The strategy, which focuses on all global markets, including Israel, will encourage and inspire more businesses to export; inform businesses by providing practical assistance on exporting; connect UK businesses to overseas buyers and opportunities; and help provide finance through UK Export Finance to enhance the HMG offer to UK exporters. Through this strategy we will also continue to promote the UK as a bilateral trading partner, reassuring Israeli businesses that the UK remains open for business and remains an advocate for free trade and open markets. On trade more broadly, the Trade Continuity Agreement signed between the UK and Israel last February reflects the importance both countries attribute to the respective trading relationship and the potential opportunities that exist. I am delighted that the Hon. Member will be supporting the important and exciting work that builds on the agreement as our recently appointed Trade Envoy for Israel.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Females

Dawn Butler: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress has been made on the Government Equalities Office review of its engagement with women and women's organisations; and when she plans to publish the findings of that review.

Victoria Atkins: The former Minister for Women and Equalities, my Rt Hon. Friend for Portsmouth North, told the Women and Equalities Select Committee in December 2018 she had commissioned a programme to enable the Equalities Office to better engage with women’s organisations. [This was a programme of work and not a formal review of engagement]. The programme is reaching organisations across the country and includes a City Listening project in Bristol, Leicester and Leeds where forums are being held for women to make their voices better heard by policy makers.

Sanitary Protection: Disadvantaged

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits of providing free sanitary products to women on low incomes beyond compulsory school age.

Victoria Atkins: No one should be held back from reaching their potential because of their gender. This is why the former Minister for Women and Equalities, my Rt Hon. Friend for Portsmouth North, announced a cross-sectoral Taskforce that looks beyond those in schools to other vulnerable groups in society. The Taskforce includes an ‘Access for all’ workstream which, as part of its remit, will review existing initiatives designed to provide period products to vulnerable groups, identify gaps and highlight the groups on which potential new interventions should focus. The Taskforce will report on this in due course.

Department for Transport

Roads: Suffolk

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Suffolk county council on the Ipswich northern route since 1 January 2019.

George Freeman: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 01 October 2019.The correct answer should have been:

Since 1 January 2019, the Department has liaised with Suffolk County Council to support them in developing the evidence required to facilitate a thorough and efficient assessment of the proposed scheme. This has included analytical support to scheme promoters, in advance of Transport East submitting the scheme proposal to the Department on the County Council’s behalf in July 2019, and following this submission.Department for Transport officials have had regular discussions with Suffolk County Council regarding the Ipswich Northern Route since January 1 2019. As well as regular engagement, the Department has offered analytical support to all scheme promoters as part of the Major Road Network (MRN) and Large Local Majors (LLM) programme.

George Freeman: Since 1 January 2019, the Department has liaised with Suffolk County Council to support them in developing the evidence required to facilitate a thorough and efficient assessment of the proposed scheme. This has included analytical support to scheme promoters, in advance of Transport East submitting the scheme proposal to the Department on the County Council’s behalf in July 2019, and following this submission.Department for Transport officials have had regular discussions with Suffolk County Council regarding the Ipswich Northern Route since January 1 2019. As well as regular engagement, the Department has offered analytical support to all scheme promoters as part of the Major Road Network (MRN) and Large Local Majors (LLM) programme.

Large Goods Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to develop a strategy for the introduction of low-carbon heavy goods vehicles.

George Freeman: The Government recognises the need to increase ambition and step up the pace of progress to ensure that all transport sector modes, including freight, play their part in delivering net zero emissions by 2050. We are investing nearly £1.5bn between April 2015 and March 2021 to support the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles, including HGVs. The funding includes the Plug-in Van Grant that provides £20,000 off the price of the first 200 large vans (3.5t+) or trucks, our £22m Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition, our ten-year trial of longer semi-trailers, the £11m Low Carbon Truck and Refuelling Infrastructure Trial and the £20m Low Emission Freight Trial. We have agreed an industry-wide voluntary target for reducing HGV greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2025, from 2015 levels and are collaborating with and support industry in achieving this goal.

Department for Transport: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

George Freeman: The Secretary of State for Transport had no meetings with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 June and 31 August 2019. The Minister for State for the Future of Transport, George Freeman MP, had five meetings with the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser in the same timeframe.

West Coast Partnership Rail Franchise: Catering

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there there are plans to change the operational models for supplying train catering store supplies on the First Trenitalia West Coast franchise.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The operational management of the franchise will be a matter for the operator, First Trenitalia West Coast, who can be contacted via First Group (https://www.firstgroupplc.com/).

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to undertake a review of the legislation on pavement parking.

George Freeman: Earlier this year, the Department for Transport completed a comprehensive review of pavement parking in England looking at the extent of the problem, the effectiveness of the current legislation and options for change. This review concluded shortly before the announcement of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into pavement parking in April 2019. The Department for Transport is considering the conclusions of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry, alongside the findings of its own review, before deciding upon any course of action to tackle the problem of pavement parking.

Roads: Mansfield

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding he has allocated to repair roads in Mansfield constituency in the last year for which information is available.

George Freeman: Department for Transport funding for local highway maintenance is allocated by formula to local highway authorities at the upper tier, to county councils or unitary authorities, so it is not available by Parliamentary constituency. In 2019/20 the Department is allocating £18.423 million to Nottinghamshire County Council for local highway maintenance. Of this, £12.006 million is the Highways Maintenance Block Needs Element, £2.501 million is HighwaysMaintenance Block Incentive Element and £3.916 million is Integrated Transport Block funding. In addition, the Department allocated £0.859 million through the Pothole Action Fund and Flood Resilience Fund for 2019/20.

Train Operating Companies: Safety

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the safety performance of train operating companies at train stations is reported.

Chris Heaton-Harris: As health and safety regulator for the rail industry, including at stations, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have responsibility for setting requirements for train operators in relation to reporting safety performance. In order to operate services, operators are required to operate and maintain a safety management system and to have this certified or authorised by the ORR every five years.

Department for Transport: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Transport is an inclusive department and we work with a diverse range of communities and stakeholders. When planning events we work closely with local authorities and other organisations to ensure that representatives of communities that may be interested in attending, including the Jain community, receive invitations.

Shared Spaces: Visual Impairment

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Inclusive Transport Strategy, published on 25 July 2018, when his Department plans to publish updated guidance for local authorities creating a shared space that is also accessible for visually impaired people.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Following the commitment in the Inclusive Transport Strategy, the Department is working with Transport Scotland on the research into inclusive street design. This is a collaborative project between the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, which began in August and is scheduled to complete early next year. Following the conclusion of the research, we will consider the recommendations, and therefore how best to update our guidance.

Electric Vehicles: Batteries

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on electric vehicle battery range of (a) low or high temperatures and (b) the use of in-car heating or air conditioning.

George Freeman: Really low and really high temperatures can impact an electric vehicle’s battery range. Currently, the operating temperatures for electric vehicle battery cells are -20°C to +60°C. Vehicle manufacturers compensate for this at pack level through pre-conditioning as well as heating and cooling systems, the drawback being that these draw energy. Applications in aerospace and defence have even more challenging operating temperatures. The Government has committed £274m to the Industrial Strategy’s Faraday Battery Challenge which includes understanding the effects of temperature further. The Challenge is supporting battery R&D from the Faraday Institution’s academic research through Innovate UK’s programme of collaborative R&D and to scale-up in the cutting-edge UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. One of the aims of the Faraday programme is to improve the operating range of battery cells, including to -40°C to +80°C by 2035 therefore enabling better performance and efficiency at higher and lower ambient temperatures. Thermal loads from heating, ventilation and air-conditioning affect the battery range of electrical vehicles and is most critical for vehicles like refrigerated trucks. The Office for Low Emission Vehicle’s Integrated Delivery Programme is funding R&D projects aiming to maximise the efficiency of the electric powertrain and significantly extend an electric vehicle’s range further.

Northern

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 July 2019 to Question 279431 on Northern, what allowable Changes have been applied to the Arriva Rail North franchise subsidy in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18 and (c) 2018-19.

Chris Heaton-Harris: For the years 2016/17 through to 2018/19, allowable changes that have been agreed and applied to their subsidy cover the remapping of services from TPE to Northern and a change in the fares policy changing the annual regulated fares increase assumed at bid from RPI+1% to RPI only Discussions continue with Northern on the impact of other allowable changes that will be applied to the franchise subsidy. These cover changes to Network Rail’s costs and changes to scope and timing of planned infrastructure upgrades. All these changes are in line with the terms of the Franchise Agreement.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Mr Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to enforcement officers in relation to idling engines; and whether he plans to update that guidance.

George Freeman: Guidance for Local Authorities on idling enforcement was last issued in 2002. This is when the relevant regulations, the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002), were enacted. This guidance is currently being revised by the Department and will be reissued to Local Authorities in the coming months.

Railways: Huddersfield

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the latest timetable and scope of improvements being planned to TransPennine Services on the Huddersfield Rail line; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Transport for the North, the Department for Transport and the rail industry monitor timetable changes and agreed actions for the December 2018 timetable which gave passengers a more resilient service on the Huddersfield line. These measures have continued into 2019 and the planned introduction of new longer trains and timetable improvements for this December means further stability, faster services and increased capacity.

Aviation: Egypt

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of lifting the ban on direct flights from the UK to Sharm El Sheikh airport in Egypt.

Paul Maynard: The Department for Transport undertakes aviation security assessments at overseas airports. UK aviation security experts are working closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground. It is long standing government policy not to comment on security matters, however I can confirm that we continue to work in partnership with the Egyptian authorities, sharing aviation security expertise, and are grateful for their close engagement and support. We look forward to achieving the return of flights to Sharm el-Sheikh when the situation allows.

Air Travel Trust Fund: Insurance

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the Air Travel Trust Fund’s insurance policies.

Paul Maynard: The Air Travel Trust Fund (ATT) is the primary source of funding when an ATOL holder fails. The ATT has in place insurance policies that provide the Trust with access to funds in the event of ATOL holder failure(s), where costs arising from refunds and repatriation exceed either £150 million, £70 million or £10 million in a policy year, depending on the size of the failed ATOL holder(s). The specific terms of the policies are confidential between the ATT and its insurers.

Air Travel Trust Fund: Insurance

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of insurance premiums on insurance and reinsurance policies for the Air Travel Trust Fund was in the last 12 months.

Paul Maynard: The most recent information is published in the Air Travel Trust’s 2018 Annual Report and Accounts. Insurance premiums for the year to 31 March 2018 were £11,990,000

Air Travel Trust Fund: Insurance

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the value is of the (a) insurance and (b) reinsurance that the Air Travel Trust Fund has that covered the collapse of Thomas Cook; and which insurance companies underwrite that insurance.

Paul Maynard: The Air Travel Trust Fund (ATT) is the primary source of funding when an ATOL holder fails. The ATT has in place insurance policies that provide the Trust with access to funds in the event of ATOL holder failure(s), where costs arising from refunds and repatriation exceed either £150 million, £70 million or £10 million in a policy year, depending on the size of the failed ATOL holder(s). Cover is provided by a panel of insurers and the annual limit is £400 million. The specific terms of the policies are confidential between the ATT and its insurers.

Thomas Cook: Insolvency

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money he expects to recover from credit and debit card companies in relation to the costs incurred after the collapse of Thomas Cook.

Paul Maynard: This is one of the largest travel company failures we have ever seen. A failure of this size, and the number of passengers affected, is unprecedented. In these circumstances, it is right that the government should step in and help affected passengers return home as smoothly as possible. We are seeking to minimise the impact on government and taxpayers by recovering tax payer funds expended in relation to the repatriation operation where appropriate through the ATOL scheme, credit card companies and travel insurance.

Roads: Surrey

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has allocated to road improvement works in (a) Surrey and (b) Woking constituency in each of the last three years; and what funding he plans to allocate to such works in the 2020-21 financial year.

George Freeman: Department for Transport funding for local highway maintenance is allocated mainly by formula to local highway authorities at the upper tier, to county councils or unitary authorities, so we are unable to provide a break down by Parliamentary constituency. The formula comprises the Needs Element (£725 million in England outside London in 2019/20) and the Incentive/Efficiency Element (£150 million 2019/20). Integrated Transport Block (ITB) is a formula distribution of capital funding to local transport authorities, which is designed to fund small-scale local transport improvements, including road safety measures, public transport and public realm improvements. In each of the last three years the Department’s allocation to Surrey County Council for local highway maintenance and for ITB was as follows: 2017/18 £21.072 million2018/19 £21.056 million2019/20 £21.034 million The proposed allocation for 2020/21 is £21.034 million. Following Budget 2018, Surrey County Council received a share, £7.409 million, of the £420 million additional funding announced for England. This was for local highways maintenance including the repair of potholes, to keep local bridges and structures open and safe, and to aid other minor highway works. Surrey County Council has a Private Finance Initiative for street lighting, for which the revenue grant payment in each of the last three years was £5.955 million. In addition, Surrey County Council has received over £3.7 million in total over the last three years through the Pothole Action Fund.

Egypt: Aviation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the level of risk of lifting the UK flight ban to Sharm el Sheikh.

Paul Maynard: The Department for Transport undertakes aviation security assessments at overseas airports. UK aviation security experts are working closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground. It is long standing government policy not to comment on security matters, however I can confirm that we continue to work in partnership with the Egyptian authorities, sharing aviation security expertise, and are grateful for their close engagement and support. We look forward to achieving the return of flights to Sharm el-Sheikh when the situation allows.

Electric Scooters

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the publication of the Future of Mobility regulatory review.

George Freeman: The Future of Mobility regulatory review is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure our regulatory framework supports transport innovation. The first key milestone will be a call for evidence which we plan to launch in autumn this year. We will use the responses to identify where reform is needed now to address areas with a pressing need for change. The responses will also help the Government clarify where further work is necessary ahead of more substantial changes to legislation over the next few years.

Vehicle Number Plates: Flags

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a British number plate that incorporates the Union flag and the GB national identifier so that British cars comply with the UN's Geneva Convention on Road Traffic 1949 and Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968 without requiring an oval GB sticker after the UK leaves the EU.

George Freeman: The law in the United Kingdom already allows for the use of national identifiers on number plates for domestic use. The use of a GB identifier on a number plate is recognised by countries that have signed up to the Vienna Convention. Those countries which have not signed up to the Vienna Convention will still require the use of a GB sticker as the Convention does not include provisions for distinguishing signs in a number plate. Therefore, advice to customers to avoid any difficulties when travelling internationally would be to use a GB sticker on their vehicle.

A34: Accidents

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 October 2019 to Question 292331, what estimate he has made of the total number of (i) deaths and (ii) fatalities on the A34 in 2018.

George Freeman: There were 495 reported road casualties, including 10 fatalities, on the whole of the A34 in 2018.

Roads: Rural Areas

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to improve the condition of rural roads.

George Freeman: The Government is providing over £6.6 billion of funding to local highway authorities for local highways maintenance in England, outside London, between 2015 and 2021 to help them tackle the condition of the local road network. Well-planned maintenance to prevent potholes and other defects forming on the roads is vital. Councils that do this well get better value for every pound spent and improve their customer satisfaction. So, from 2016/17, this Government introduced incentive funding to help encourage local highway authorities to manage their road networks better and achieve greater efficiencies. Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the local highway network in their area. The Act does not set out specific standards of maintenance, as it is for each individual local highway authority to assess which parts of its network need repair based on its local knowledge and circumstances. In a rural area there will be many miles of roads so it is for each local highway authority to decide how to prioritise maintenance of its road network.

South Western Railway: Standards

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what targets his Department has set to measure the performance of South Western Railway.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Targets for performance are set out in Schedule 7.1 of the South Western Franchise Agreement, a version of which is published on Gov.UK at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/833157/south_western_railways_2017_rail_franchise_agreement.pdf

Taxis: Disability

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to make taxis more accessible for disabled people.

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to prevent taxi drivers from discriminating against people with disability assistance dogs.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: In July 2018 the Department published its Inclusive Transport Strategy, with the intention of supporting a transport network which enables disabled people to travel easily, confidently and without additional cost. Disabled people make twice as many journeys by taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) as non-disabled people and it is essential that operators and authorities play their part in making this a reality. The Government plans to update guidance to local licensing authorities on the provision of an inclusive service, including the appropriate treatment of passengers with assistance dogs. In the meantime I urge authorities to ensure that drivers receive suitable disability awareness training and that robust action is taken against those who discriminate illegally against disabled passengers.

Cycling and Walking: Surrey

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has allocated to (a) Woking and (b) Surrey for projects relating to his Department's cycling and walking investment strategy in the last three years.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department has provided £0.784 million for Bikeability training in schools in Surrey. Surrey County Council is one of the 46 local authorities benefiting from a total of £1.5 million investment to support the development of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs). The Department has also allocated around £64 million to Surrey from non-ringfenced funding streams (including the Integrated Transport Block and Maintenance Block) of which a certain percentage is spent on measures which benefit cyclists and pedestrians. Local authorities are also able to use other local funds for cycling and walking projects. Surrey County Council is part of the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which was allocated almost £125 million through the Local Growth Fund (LGF). The Department conducted a survey of LEPs about investment of LGF on cycling and walking projects and this has shown that Enterprise M3 has allocated £42.3 million for cycling and walking projects in their region, including for projects in Woking and Guildford.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affiars, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of signatories with Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; and what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in states with nuclear weapons on reducing their stockpile of nuclear weapons.

Dr Andrew Murrison: ​The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has been a success. Over the last 50 years it has minimised the proliferation of nuclear weapons; provided the framework for significant levels of nuclear disarmament – the UK has reduced its warhead numbers by over half since their Cold War peak – and provided the framework to develop secure and safe peaceful uses of nuclear energy globally.The UK continues to work with its allies to encourage all possessor states to recognise their responsibilities and remain committed to the gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated within the framework of the NPT, as the security situation allows. For example, the UK is chairing the P5 process, a forum for the UK, US, France, China and Russia to discuss disarmament and non-proliferation issues. It builds trust and confidence, and contributes to improving the current security environment. The UK also plays a leading role on nuclear disarmament verification, which will ensure technologies and procedures are in place to provide confidence that nuclear weapons have been eliminated.

Burma: Religious Freedom

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to submit a resolution to the UN Security Council requiring members of the Myanmar military responsible for the persecution of Christians and Muslims to be investigated by the International Criminal Court.

Dominic Raab: We are clear that there should be accountability for the atrocities set out in the reports of the UN Fact Finding Mission on human rights abuses in Myanmar. We assess, however, that there is insufficient support amongst Security Council members for a referral to the International Criminal Court at this time. The UK has nonetheless taken steps to maintain the international spotlight on the atrocities committed. In October 2018 the UK organised for the UN Fact Finding Mission to brief the UN Security Council on its findings. The UK was also instrumental in securing a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council to set up an independent UN mechanism to collect and preserve evidence on the atrocities. This will help to ensure future prosecutions are possible through domestic or international mechanisms.​

Burma: Religious Freedom

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Myanmar counterpart on the repression of Kachin Christians in that country.

Dominic Raab: The UK regularly voices its concerns about democratic and religious freedoms for minorities in Myanmar. In July, the Ambassador met the Minister for Religious and Cultural Affairs to discuss religious freedom and Christians in Myanmar.Our ambassador also called Reverend Samson, President of the Kachin Baptist Church, in July. The Ambassador voiced his support after the military brought false legal charges against Reverend Samson. The charges have since been dropped. The UK also works with a number of civil society organisations to improve religious freedom.

Ukraine: NATO

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Ukrainian counterpart on that country's prospective membership of NATO.

Dominic Raab: The United Kingdom continues to support NATO's Open Door policy under which all European democracies are entitled to pursue NATO membership. The decision over whether to seek NATO membership is a matter for the people and government of Ukraine. Last month the Minister for Europe and the Americas met with Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko and Vice Prime Minister for European Integration Dmytro Kuleba, and discussed Ukraine's long-term aspiration to membership of NATO. We continue to support Ukraine's path to Euro-Atlantic integration.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has authorised the sale of telecommunications equipment to (a) Saudi Arabia and (b) the UAE for use by the armed forces of those countries to direct operations of their front-line troops in conflict in Yemen.

Dominic Raab: The Government has a transparent export licensing system and publishes quarterly and annual statistics, including details of export licences granted, refused and revoked. We will not issue any export licences that are inconsistent with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Prosperity Fund: Brazil

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Brazilian Governments on the £20 million of investment allocated from the Prosperity Fund.

Dominic Raab: ​Minister Burns signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering use of the £20 million we are investing in the Energy Programme using monies from the Prosperity Fund. We plan to publish it in due course.

Prosperity Fund: Brazil

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of the Government’s investment in Brazil out of the Prosperity Fund has been allocated to programmes that strengthen environmental protections in that country.

Dominic Raab: ​Several Prosperity Fund programmes contribute to environmental issues in Brazil. The Green Finance programme supports work to improve the availability of private sector finance for high quality, sustainable infrastructure investment. The Energy programme will support Brazil's low-carbon transition by improving access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. The Future Cities programme will help to make more efficient use of resources and reduce transport pollution. The Government has, respectively, committed £5 million, £25 million, and £20 million to these programmes.

Prosperity Fund: Brazil

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of the Government’s investment in Brazil out of the Prosperity Fund has been allocated from Official Development Assistance.

Dominic Raab: ​Almost all of the Government's investment in Brazil through the Prosperity Fund has been allocated from Official Development Assistance. There is a small non-ODA budget allocated by the Treasury to the Prosperity Fund to support Secondary Benefits work.

Prosperity Fund: Brazil

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the amount of money the Government plans to invest in Brazil out of the Prosperity Fund for each of the next four years; and to which programmes that investment will be allocated.

Dominic Raab: ​The Government plans to invest £51.7million in Brazil through the Prosperity Fund over the next four years: £14.4 million in 2019/20, £17.2 million in 2020/21, £15.2 million in 2021/22 and £4.9 million in 2022/2023. This funding will be allocated to our Future Cities, Energy Trade Facilitation, and Green Finance programmes.

Diplomatic Service

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and what proportion of the members of Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service are (a) serving overseas and (b) have served overseas in each year since 2010.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The table below provides the number and proportion of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service serving overseas each year since 2013:- Mar-13Mar-14Mar-15Mar-16Mar-17Mar-18Mar-19Aug-19Number of Diplomatic Service members posted overseas1600-16991400-14991400-14991400-14991400-14991500-15991700-17991600-1699Proportion of Diplomatic Service members posted overseas48%47%47%45%45%48%52%51% The statistics above exclude FCO Home Civil Servants who are working in an overseas post. Up until 1st April 2015, Department of Trade staff (former UKTI) were included in FCO staff headcount.We are unable to provide headcount information prior to 2013. As reported in the 2012/13 FCO Annual Report and Accounts at page 29, in February 2013 the FCO realigned previous staffing figures, adopting a new methodology in line with Office for National Statistics guidelines.Numbers have been released in bands rather than absolute values in line with current publication policies for FCO headcount.

South East Asia: Diplomatic Service

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has budgeted for the (a) establishment and (b) operation of a permanent British diplomatic mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The UK has close connections with the ten countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and we are rightly looking to strengthen our links with this important region of the world after we exit the EU.The new UK Ambassador to ASEAN is expected to take up the role in Jakarta this autumn, with the Mission fully established and operational by the end of the current Financial Year. The Mission is co-located with the British Embassy in Jakarta. The estimated budget for establishing it is £700,000; the full costs will be known once the necessary works have been completed. It is estimated that the annual budget for operating the Mission, once fully established, will be approximately £750,000.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: “It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.”

Syria: Armed Conflict

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Chinese and (b) Russian counterparts on violence against civilians in Idlib, Syria.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK frequently discusses the violence against civilians in Idlib with Russia and China in meetings of the UN Security Council, most recently on 30 September. The UK was recently involved in textual negotiations with Russia and China and other Security Council members on a draft resolution on Idlib which was, to our great disappointment, vetoed by Russia and China on 19 September. The previous Prime Minister raised the situation in Idlib with President Putin at the G20 Summit on 28-29 June.

Egypt: Diplomatic Relations

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the strength of the UK's diplomatic relations with Egypt.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK wants Egypt to succeed as a stable, prosperous and democratic country. The UK-Egypt relationship is important and spans a wide range of fields, from foreign policy, to trade and investment, economic reform, education, and healthcare. British companies continue to be one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment into Egypt. The Government works closely with the Egyptian authorities to counter shared threats from terrorism, to promote the safety and security of over 450,000 British citizens who visit Egypt each year, and to support longer-term reform. A close relationship enables us to register concerns where we have them, for example on human rights. British Ministers regularly meet their Egyptian counterparts. I visited Cairo last month for discussions on a wide range of bilateral issues.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the UK's role in global ocean conservation.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The UK's vision is to achieve a clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse ocean. As set out in the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan, we will work domestically and internationally to deliver this vision and our commitments under UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water, the objective of which is to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. At the UN General Assembly in September, the Prime Minister called for urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity as part of global efforts to tackle the drivers and impact of climate change. Action on climate change is linked to ocean conservation – tackling acidification, deoxygenation, temperature and sea level rise. The UK's nomination, in partnership with Italy, to host COP26 in 2020 in Glasgow is expected to be formally confirmed at COP25 (the "Blue COP") in Santiago in December. We will seek to build on the outcomes from COP25 and ensure that the ocean remains high on the climate agenda.

Tibet: Climate Change

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the effect of climate change on Tibet.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: “It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.”

China: Uighurs

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) governance and (b) humanitarian situation in (i) Uighur and (b) Xinjiang province, China.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: “It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.”

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka on the implementation of UN Human Rights Council resolutions on that country.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We continually assess the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka on the implementation of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions 30/1, 34/1 and 40/1. In March when the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued its latest Annual Report, we agreed that progress had been made. We welcomed the restoration of important democratic checks and balances, improvements in freedom of expression and assembly, the return of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances.However, we want to see further and faster progress. We continue to urge the Government to establish the full range of transitional justice mechanisms envisaged in the UNHRC resolutions, to deliver meaningful devolution through constitutional reform, replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act with human rights compliant legislation, and return all remaining military-held private land. During his recent visit to Sri Lanka on 2-3 October, Lord Ahmad encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to deliver fully on its commitments made to the UNHRC and to develop a comprehensive and time-bound implementation strategy.​

Bahamas: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department has provided to people affected by storm Dorian in the Bahamas.

Christopher Pincher: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to end trophy hunting imports throughout the world.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: There are differing views on trophy hunting imports, which is why the British Government recently announced plans to launch a consultation on further restricting the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK. In addition, the UK continues to work hard within international forums, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to ensure that wildlife is used in a sustainable and well managed way.

Slavery

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the announcement by the former Prime Minister the Rt Hon. Theresa May at the centenary conference of the International Labour Organisation on 11 June 2019 of the creation of an International Modern Slavery and Migration Envoy, by what date that post will be appointed, what the remit of that post is; and for what reasons that post is responsible for both modern slavery and migration.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: ​One of the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act was the establishment of an international modern slavery envoy, to represent the UK in international discussions on modern slavery and to advance the government's objectives on this vital agenda.HMG expects to announce the name of the successful candidate shortly.The FCO have agreed with other relevant Government Departments that this role will be most effective if it is combined with the existing migration envoy role. In international settings, trafficking and migration are often covered in the same dialogues, and we believe that similar skills would be required for both components of the role. This also reflects the joint roles of some of our interlocutors in key capitals. However it is important that trafficking should not be seen through a purely migration prism, and vice versa.

Palestinians: Health Services

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the Government did not support the UN Commission of Inquiry's report into potential violations of international law and the protection of healthcare in Palestine.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK abstained on the UN Human Rights Council resolution calling for a Commission of Inquiry on the basis that the substance of a resolution must be impartial and balanced. We could not support an international investigation that refused to explicitly call for an investigation into the action of non-state actors such as Hamas. It is clear that Hamas hold significant responsibility for encouraging violent protest in Gaza, which is totally unacceptable. However, our vote does not mean that we will hold back from voicing or raising concern about Israel’s actions when warranted. The UN and its member states have every right to address these grave matters in a measured, balanced and proportionate way. In future, the UK will continue to support scrutiny of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the Human Rights Council, so long as this scrutiny is justified and proportionate. We have repeatedly made clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the manner in which the Israel Defense Forces police non-violent protests and the border areas, including the use of live ammunition. We call on Israel to adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security interest.

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to stop the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen and call for a nationwide ceasefire.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Christianity: Oppression

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will have discussions with his counterparts in (a) the G20 and (b) the G7 on tackling persecution of Christians overseas.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Over recent months, the UK has raised Freedom of Religion or Belief concerns, including the worldwide persecution of Christians, bilaterally and through multilateral institutions such as the UN, EU and OSCE. At the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in April, we discussed our concerns on the resurgent forms of racism, and discrimination that includes the targeting of Christian minorities. We reaffirmed our dedication to uphold the rights of all to hold and manifest their religion or belief, both privately and in public. We will consider whether to raise our concerns in subsequent G7 and G20 Foreign Ministers' meetings.

Burma: Arms Trade

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy (a) to impose sanctions on companies linked to the military of Myanmar and (b) to take diplomatic steps to encourage other countries to impose such sanctions.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We agree that the interests of the Myanmar military and companies linked to it are deeply entrenched across Myanmar's economy. But targeted sanctions on specific commercial entities are difficult, as those entities are not always wholly controlled by the military. Any decision to impose sanctions on such entities would have to be carefully considered. Targeting companies or whole sectors could disrupt Myanmar’s financial system, harm economic development across Myanmar and inadvertently harm vulnerable people. We continue to discuss with international partners whether we can add further targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in a way that minimises the impact on the people of Myanmar.

Syria: Yazidis

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect Yazidi women from sexual assault in north-eastern Syria.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for International Development

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2019 to Question 282383 on Yemen: Overseas Aid, which UK funded assets were damaged and which parties were identified as responsible for that damage; and how much UK Aid funding has been spent on those facilities.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Since the Yemen conflict started in 2015, our partners have reported two UK funded assets have been damaged by alleged airstrikes. These are a Norwegian Refugee Council warehouse in the Harradh area of Hajjah governorate on 21 June 2015 and a UNICEF water and sanitary health facility in Sahar district on 22 July 2018. We closely monitor such incidents, but we are not able to conduct investigations which would allow us to conclude which parties were responsible. Losses to DFID following the Norwegian Refugee Council warehouse incident were £3,127, while DFID suffered no direct losses as a result of damages to the UNICEF facility.

Department for International Development: Brexit

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2019 to Question 285408 on Department for International Development: Brexit, how many staff from her Department have been placed in each Government Department to work on preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Andrew Stephenson: As at 1st October, the Department for International Development has deployed 114 employees on short term loan to other government departments to support projects related to the UK leaving the EU. DFID employees have been deployed to the following departments: Government DepartmentNumber of DFID Staff DeployedDepartment for Exiting the European Union56Department for International Trade25Cabinet OfficeFewer than 5Department for Health and Social CareFewer than 5Borders Delivery Group (HMRC)16Border’s Supply Chain Impact Group (HMRC)9

Department for International Development: Brexit

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal.

Andrew Stephenson: The majority of Brexit planning has been managed through existing resource within DFID. No additional costs have been accrued in preparing for a deal. In preparing for no deal, the Government has committed to ensuring UK organisations are able to continue delivering vital programmes should the EU cut funding. DFID has allocated £416,345 to a fund manager to prepare and deliver the financial assurance to be provided to UK organisations should their EU funding be cut, and for research into the impact of Brexit on the Civil Society sector. In addition, up to £150,000 has been allocated to DFID’s Get Ready communications campaign by the Cabinet Office.

Bahamas: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to support humanitarian relief efforts in the Bahamas responding to the effects of Hurricane Dorian.

Dr Andrew Murrison: DFID responded immediately to help those affected by hurricane Dorian through the deployment of a team of humanitarian experts to The Bahamas. Working alongside the Bahamas Government’s National Emergency Management Association, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and international partners, they helped assess the scale of needs, coordinate the emergency response and ensure aid quickly reached those affected. Through the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay the UK were able to rapidly distribute emergency supplies, assist communities who were cut off, and clear debris to enable additional support to arrive. Mounts Bay has been in the Caribbean, loaded with relief supplies, since June to prepare for and provide life-saving emergency assistance in emergencies like Dorian. The UK committed up to £1.5 million towards the immediate humanitarian response. Working closely with the Bahamian Government, this funding has enabled the delivery of critical aid supplies and helped coordinate the international response.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department will take to ensure the implementation of the political declaration of the UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage across its investments in health and human development.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Strengthening health systems to deliver Universal Health Coverage is a priority for the UK. Our support for implementation of the political declaration includes funding to the World Health Organisation to assist countries to develop Universal Health Coverage country plans and the health financing strategies needed to meet the commitment to increase public spending on health, with an emphasis on primary health care. Our announcement at the UN General Assembly of £600m to buy family planning supplies will provide access to family planning for 20 million women and girls each year up to 2025. This programme will support countries to meet the commitment to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Department for International Development: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Andrew Stephenson: The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser met with the current and previous Secretary of State once each during this period. The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.

Poliomyelitis: Vaccination

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to work alongside the One Last Push campaign to ensure that (a) funding and (b) other support is available for polio vaccination programmes in countries at risk from that disease.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK is a leading supporter of efforts to eradicate polio, having invested £1.3 billion since 1995. We work closely with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative through engagement at regular governance meetings as well as working with a wide range of other stakeholders including in encouraging others to provide financial support. We engage closely with parliamentarians through the International Development Committee and All-Party Parliamentary Group on Immunisations to raise awareness and support for continued financing and support to countries at high risk of polio outbreaks. Parliamentarians have an important role to play in advocating for international financial support.

Department for International Development: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Zac Goldsmith: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely.The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

Developing Countries: Taxation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help strengthen the tax systems of developing countries in order to increase funding for services to support the poorest people.

Andrew Stephenson: The UK is committed to supporting countries to achieve the Global Goals, including working actively with countries to help raise and manage public revenues, and thereby to invest in their public services and infrastructure. In February 2019 we announced a new £47 million package of support to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems. This package will provide technical assistance and capacity building support through a number of partners. It will also help contribute to economic growth by helping to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, and by creating a more level playing field for businesses. In addition to this new package of support, the UK has a number of other initiatives underway to help strengthen tax systems; in August 2018 DFID Ethiopia launched a £35 million programme to support the Ethiopian government in transforming the country’s tax system, and HMRC’s Capacity Building Unit provides peer-to-peer expertise to raise the standards of tax systems of developing countries.

West Africa: Fisheries

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his Department is giving to West African countries that are victims of illegal fishing.

Andrew Stephenson: DFID works closely with partner Governments to promote sustainable fishing practices, helping to reduce the impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in West Africa and across the world. As part of our commitment to protecting the global environment, the Government has provided £250 million in funding to the Global Environment Facility’s 7th replenishment (2018-2022), which helps strengthen the management of fisheries and marine-protected areas. DFID provides a core contribution to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, which supports countries in sustainable fisheries management. Progress is set out in their flagship report ‘State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture’. DFID is also supporting sustainable small-scale aquaculture through the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, and our support has contributed to improving the fish-based livelihoods of 51,235 households and 72,264 people.

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to support developing countries to make their agricultural practices more environmentally friendly.

Zac Goldsmith: At the UN Climate Action Summit, the UK announced support to the ‘Just Rural Transition’ initiative under which governments, businesses and civic organisations are uniting to drive a shift to sustainable land-use. This initiative includes a policy coalition that will help developing countries put policies in place for more environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture, and an investment partnership to leverage private sector investment for sustainable land use and improved livelihoods for poor farmers.DFID is supporting smallholder farmers in nearly 50 countries to improve sustainable agriculture. At the Summit, we announced an additional £61 million for climate adapted agriculture and innovation to help small-scale farmers increase productivity without degrading the environment.DFID support to tackle deforestation in developing countries has brought 2.6 million hectares of land under sustainable management and mobilised £260 million of private investment in sustainable production of commodities like palm oil, cocoa and soya.

Developing Countries: Forests

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to support countries around the world to tackle deforestation and illegal logging.

Zac Goldsmith: DFID leads work internationally and across Government to drive efforts to tackle deforestation and combat illegal logging. It does so directly through bilateral programmes aimed at supporting countries and businesses to lock out illegal activities, promote sector reforms, and foster public-private partnerships which catalyse investment into sustainable land use, including environmental and forest protection. DFID also works through multilateral instruments that have broader geographic coverage, particularly through the World Bank’s Forest Investment Programme and the Global Environment Fund. DFID, together with the international teams in BEIS and Defra, are actively engaged in international policy processes to galvanise the action of other governments and business to stop illegal logging, deforestation and promote sustainable land use. Most recently, the UK led efforts at the UN Climate Action Summit, to agree actions to build natural resilience to climate change.

Developing Countries: Poverty

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress his Department has made on meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 10 on reducing inequality.

Zac Goldsmith: The Government is firmly committed to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 10, reducing Global Inequalities. This commitment is at the heart of DFID’s approach to tackling extreme poverty. DFID works to reduce inequality globally by ensuring that people have access to opportunities and services, prioritising the most vulnerable, those caught in crises, and those most at risk of violence and discrimination. Over 50% of UK aid goes to the most fragile and conflict-affected states. DFID is tackling inequality across the board through our policy and programming. For example, DFID’s work on decent jobs focuses on working in some of the most challenging environments to help the poorest and most marginalised to gain jobs, increase their incomes and work their way out of poverty. Between 2015/16 and 2018/19, the UK enabled 3.9 million people to raise their incomes or maintain/gain a better job or livelihood. For example, the PrOpCom Mai-Karfi programme has helped over 850,000 beneficiaries increase their income by a total of over £48 million in some of the poorest parts of northern Nigeria. DFID is a global leader on Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion and published ambitious new strategies on both last year with far reaching commitments. The UK also hosted the Global Summit on Disability Inclusion last year, galvanising global momentum on this neglected area.

Kenya: Parasitic Diseases

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his Department is providing to people affected by the jigger flea, tunga penetrans, in Kenya.

Andrew Stephenson: DFID is not providing any direct funding to help people affected by the jigger flea in Kenya. However, DFID provides central core funding to the World Health Organisation, who help tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases globally. Development of Kenya’s health sector is a priority for DFID. We are working closely with the Kenyan Ministry of Health to support their plans on Universal Health Coverage.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much and what proportion of the UK’s international climate finance is paid through the (a) European Commission budget and (b)  European Development Fund.

Zac Goldsmith: None of the UK’s £5.8 billion international climate finance is provided through the European Commission budget or European Development Fund.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to increase humanitarian aid to Idlib, Syria.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The humanitarian situation in Idlib is extremely serious. DFID continues to closely monitor the situation in Northwest Syria, and we are concerned about the impact of recent escalations of violence on civilians. So far this financial year we have allocated £40 million in support for the region, and are keeping this under active review as the situation on the ground develops. Our support in this region continues to provide Syrians with shelter, clean water and sanitation, mental health services, as well as aiding health workers and facilities that have been affected by escalating violence. DFID partners are working tirelessly to meet the growing needs among displaced people. In 2018 alone, DFID support in Idlib provided approximately 836,000 people with access to clean drinking water, 873,000 medical consultations, 69,000 food rations and access to formal education for 110,000 children.

Burma: Overseas Aid

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will include conditions in UK aid grants and loans to ensure that recipients do not use the grants to purchase goods and services from companies linked to the military of Myanmar.

Zac Goldsmith: In order to prevent DFID Myanmar funds going to military owned companies we already have enhanced private sector due diligence in place. We are constantly working to strengthen this process. DFID Myanmar has recently written to its partners asking them to review their supply chains to check UK money is not being used to purchase goods and services from companies identified as military owned by the recent UN Fact Finding Mission report on Myanmar.

Armed Conflict: Children

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to support children in conflict zones throughout the world.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Developing Countries: Women's Rights

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to increase women’s rights in developing countries.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Africa: Human Trafficking

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to support victims of human trafficking in Africa.

Dr Andrew Murrison: DFID supports victims of human trafficking in Africa through several programmes, as part of the UK Government’s commitment to realising Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, the eradication of all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking by 2030. Current support totals over £30 million. In Nigeria, for example, we are providing rehabilitation and reintegration support to almost 1,000 victims of human trafficking and vulnerable migrants returned from Libya. In Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia we are providing protection and rehabilitation services to more than 200,000 vulnerable children on the move, reducing their risk of exposure to trafficking. And we are working to end the worst forms of child labour in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. This includes children forcibly recruited during armed conflicts, sexually abused, or exploited through other forms of forced labour or hazardous work. Over 24,000 of the most vulnerable children will benefit directly and over 400,000 people are expected to benefit indirectly through increased awareness and improvements in legal systems.

Department for Education

Arts: GCSE

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many GCSE entries for arts subjects there were from students in Mansfield constituency in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The number and proportion of entries by pupils at the end of key stage 4 into GCSE[1] Arts subjects[2] in Mansfield[3] from 2013-14 to 2017-18[4] are provided in the table below, alongside the number of entries by pupils at the end of key stage 4 into all GCSE subjects in Mansfield. Mansfield2013/14[5]2014/15[6]2015/162016/172017/18[7]Number entries into GCSE Arts688874650607390Number of entries into all GCSE subjects9,1229,3909,7169,3588,180% of pupils entered into any Arts subject7.5%9.3%6.7%6.5%4.8%Source: Revised key stage 4 attainment data  [1] Includes GCSE and equivalents.[2] For the purposes of these figures arts subjects include Applied Art and Design, Art and Design, Drama, Media/Film/TV, Music, Dance and Performing Arts. As per table 1c of the national tables here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/key-stage-4-and-multi-academy-trust-performance-2018-revised.[3] Defined as pupils at the end of key stage 4 attending a school within the Mansfield parliamentary constituency.[4] For pupils at the end of key stage 4 with results that count in key stage 4 performance tables[5] In 2013/14, two major reforms were implemented which affect the calculation of key stage 4 performance measures data: 1) Professor Alison Wolf’s Review of Vocational Education recommendations which: restrict the qualifications counted; prevent any qualification from counting as larger than one GCSE; and cap the number of non-GCSEs included in performance measures at two per pupil, and 2) an early entry policy to only count a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification, in subjects counted in the English Baccalaureate. Consequently, the numbers supplied prior to 2013/14 are not directly comparable with those from 2013/14 onwards.[6] In 2014/15, early entry policy, under which only a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification is counted in performance measures, was extended to all subjects.[7] New reformed 9-1 GCSEs in Arts subject counted in key stage 4 performance tables for the first time in 2017/18. Once a reformed subject is included in performance tables, their unreformed counterparts no longer count, even if this was an early entry.

Special Educational Needs: Per Capita Costs

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the mean funding is per pupil for SEND provision in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West in each of the last 10 years.

Michelle Donelan: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



Funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is drawn from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).Local authorities are required to provide sufficient funds, from the schools block of the DSG, to enable mainstream schools to meet the cost of additional support for pupils with SEND, up to the value of £6,000.When the costs of additional support required for a pupil with SEND exceed £6,000, the local authority should also allocate additional top-up funding to cover the excess costs. This top-up funding, and funding for special schools comes from the local authority’s high needs block on the DSG.In 2013, the schools and high needs blocks within the DSG were created. As the DSG includes other budgets such as the early years budget, the department is unable to provide comparable figures before the creation of the blocks within the DSG in 2013-14.Schools and high needs funding allocations for 2013-14 to 2019-20 are as follows. The department does not hold funding information for SEND support at a constituency level, or for Merseyside. We do not use the level of children and young people with SEND to determine the rate of funding for an area. As funding for children and young people with SEND is drawn from both the schools and high needs blocks, and there is not a ringfenced amount within the schools block for children and young people with SEND, we are unable to give an average figure.In Wirral:YearSchools funding amountHigh needs funding amount2013-14£188.0 million£32.3 million2014-15£187.5 million£33.6 million2015-16£191.3 million£34.0 million2016-17£192.7 million£33.7 million2017-18£195.9 million£35.1 million2018-19£198.7 million£35.8 million*2019-20£202.9 million£36.9 million* In the North West:YearSchools funding amountHigh needs funding amount2013-14£4,174.5 million£674.2 million2014-15£4,190.6 million£709.1 million2015-16£4,339.6 million£719.2 million2016-17£4,398.7 million£726.1 million2017-18£4,513.8 million£751.5 million2018-19£4,590.1 million£787.1 million*2019-20£4,703.5 million£810.3 million* * In December 2018, the department allocated an additional £250 million of high needs funding across 2018-19 and 2019-20, in recognition of funding pressures. This additional funding is included within the final totals displayed.In 2020-21, we will provide more than £700 million in additional high needs funding, bringing the national high needs funding total to over £7 billion. Every local authority will receive a minimum increase of 8% per head of their population aged 2-18 years old. We will provide provisional allocations to local authorities in October.

Department for Education: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Michelle Donelan: Britain's Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely.The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

Schools: Admissions

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of his Department’s capital departmental expenditure limit was spent on creating new school places in each financial year since 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



Local authorities are under a statutory duty to ensure that there is a school place available for every child. The Department provides basic need funding for every place that is needed, based on local authorities’ own data on pupil forecasts. Local authorities can use this funding to provide places in new schools or through expansions of existing schools, and can work with any school in their local area, including academies and free schools.Basic need allocations to local authorities to provide new school places from 2011-2021 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-need-allocations. Data for allocations prior to 2011-12 is not readily available.The Department has also invested a total of £365 million through the Special Provision Capital Fund from 2018-19 to 2020-21. This funding will help local authorities to create new places and improve facilities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.Special Provision Capital Fund allocations to local authorities can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-provision-capital-funding-for-pupils-with-ehc-plans.In addition, the Department has funded thousands of good new school places and opened schools across the country through the free schools programme. The Department’s total capital costs of establishing free schools are listed below. These annual costs include all aspects of site acquisition, design, and construction expended in that year.Financial yearTotal capital costs (million)2010-11£1m2011-12£50m2012-13£275m2013-14£704m2014-15£761m2015-16£931m2016-17£965m2017-18£872m2018-19£1,004m2019-20To be confirmed [1]Total£5,563mThere are also some much smaller additional capital programmes which have also created places, however this is not their primary objective. In total, the Department is on track to create one million places this decade (2010 to 2020), the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations. This follows a decrease of 100,000 places between 2004 and 2010.[1] This figure will be available once the Department lays its annual accounts before Parliament in 2020.

Schools

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of his Department’s capital departmental expenditure limit was spent on improving the existing school estate in each financial year since 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



The Department for Education has allocated over £13 billion in condition funding from 2011-12 to 2019-20, an average of £1.4 billion a year. On top of that, the £4.4 billion Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing school buildings in the worst condition across England, covering over 500 schools. Data on capital funding allocated prior to 2011-12 is not readily available.In addition to this, the Department provides Basic Need funding to local authorities for new school places and, as of 1 October 2019, the Department has opened 507 free schools which when full will educate 280,000 pupils.Published data on annual capital allocations is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding.

Further Education

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of his Department’s capital departmental expenditure limit was spent on (a) creating new places in further education and (b) investing in the existing further education estate in each financial year since 2010-11.

Michelle Donelan: Holding answer received on 07 October 2019



The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Children: Day Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 30 September to Question 290628 on Children: Day Care, what the criteria was for allocating that funding; and how much funding was allocated to each local authority.

Nick Gibb: The funding the Department allocated to the recipients of funding for the Holiday Activities and Food programme for 2019 can be found in the table attached.The 11 organisations we worked with in 2019 were allocated the full amount of funding requested in their bid. I have attached to this answer our invitation to tender document, which includes the assessment criteria for this programme.



293438_xls
(Excel SpreadSheet, 42 KB)




293438_doc
(Word Document, 251.5 KB)

Children: Communication Skills and Literacy

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to tackle the word gap among pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: 28% of children finish their reception year still without the early communication, language and literacy skills they need to thrive. The Department has set out an ambition to halve this figure by 2028. This is why the Department has launched ‘Hungry Little Minds’, a new three-year campaign to help parents support their child’s early language development. This builds on our wider early-years social mobility programme, where the Department is investing over £100 million. The Department is committed to continuing this support once children reach primary school, which is why one of the three aims of the £26.3 million English Hubs Programme is early language development. 34 primary schools have been appointed as English hubs to support nearly 3000 schools across England to improve educational outcomes for the most disadvantaged children in reception and Key Stage 1. The Department introduced a new curriculum for primary and secondary schools from 2014. The new curriculum for English increases the level of demand from an early age and aims to ensure that all pupils acquire a wide vocabulary, a good understanding of grammar, and proper knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and written language.

Schools: Finance

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to equalise the level of schools funding for local authorities.

Nick Gibb: In August, the Department announced a school funding settlement, providing for an increase of over £14 billion for primary and secondary schools, in total, over the next three years. The £14 billion means the Department can ‘level up’ school funding by raising the minimum per pupil funding for secondary schools to £5,000 next year, and the minimum per pupil funding for primary schools to £3,750 in 2020-21 and £4,000 in 2021-22. Average school funding is increasing by 5% next year – a significant increase - and the Department is allocating the biggest increases for the lowest-funded schools. In addition, every school in England can see an increase in per pupil funding at least in line with inflation, with most schools attracting real terms increases. This settlement comprises cash increases of £2.6 billion for 2020-21, £4.8 billion for 2021-22 and £7.1 billion for 2022-23 compared with 2019-20. As part of this, the high needs budget will rise by over £700 million in 2020-21 compared to this year, which is equivalent to an increase of over 11%.In delivering this settlement, this Government is giving all young people the best opportunities to succeed - regardless of where they grow up or go to school.

Crimes of Violence: Education

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of educating children about violent crime in order to reduce levels of violent crime among young people.

Nick Gibb: The Department know that education is a strong protective factor against children’s and young people’s risk of involvement in serious violence. It is important that schools enable children to achieve, to belong and to be equipped with the skills they need to be safe and to succeed in life. The Department is making relationships and health education compulsory in all primary and secondary schools, and relationships and sex education compulsory in all secondary schools from September 2020. The aim is to put in place the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships of all kinds, including how to properly handle conflict and to recognise coercive relationships. Key decisions on which subjects to include in the new curriculum were informed by a stakeholder engagement process, where the Department was contacted by over 63,000 individuals and organisations and a consultation which received over 11,000 responses. Pupils will be taught about building healthy relationships and about their mental health and wellbeing. This will enable them to make informed decisions and seek support if issues arise. Schools will have the freedom to ensure the curriculum meets the needs of their pupils. This flexibility will allow schools to respond to local public health and community issues such as serious violence. Schools can build on the core content and discuss topics, such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, in relation to gang and criminal activity. The Department also intends to publish the new school and college security guidance shortly. The guidance makes it clear that the curriculum offers opportunities to help schools and colleges inform young people about the dangers they may face, both in and around school and beyond, and provide pupils and students with the means to help keep themselves safe.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data his Department holds on the (a) ethnicity, (b) class and (c) gender of school governors.

Michelle Donelan: The department does not hold data on the ethnicity, class and gender of school governors and academy trustees.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Inspiring Governance and (b) Everyone on board programmes in increasing diversity on school governing boards.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more young people to become school governors.

Michelle Donelan: Inspiring Governance is a service run by the charity, Education and Employers, that supports recruitment in school governance by matching those who wish to be governors to school vacancies. The department requires Education and Employers to meet targets to increase diversity on school governing boards. They are on track to register over 16% of people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds this financial year. As at the 2011 census, 15% of the England population identified as being from a BAME background.‘Everyone on Board’ is a campaign run jointly between Inspiring Governance and the National Governance Association and is not a government programme. The objective of this campaign is to increase the number of BAME and young people involved in governance.Inspiring Governance report that over 19% of people registering and being placed into governance roles are from a BAME background, and people aged under 35 make up over 37% of registrations and over 46% of appointments.

Teachers: Recruitment

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve rates of teacher (a) recruitment and (b) retention.

Nick Gibb: In January the Department launched the Government’s first ever integrated strategy to recruit and retain more teachers in schools, developed alongside teachers, education unions and leading professional bodies.This landmark strategy includes the biggest teaching reform in a generation, the Early Career Framework (ECF), providing the solid foundations for a successful career in teaching, backed by at least £130 million a year in extra funding when fully rolled out. As part of the ECF’s package of support, the Department has committed to funding and guaranteeing 5% off-timetable in the second year of teaching for all early career teachers; early career teachers will continue to have a 10% timetable reduction in their first year of induction. The Department will also fully fund mentor training and fund time for mentors to support early career teachers.The Department recognises it needs to take significant action on starting salaries and early career pay over the medium-term to address our pressing recruitment and retention challenges. This is why the Department has set out plans to significantly raise starting pay to £30,000 by September 2022.The Department has also put in place a range of measures, including bursaries worth up to £26,000 for priority subjects, to encourage graduates to teach key subjects such as languages and physics.The Department is also offering retention incentives in priority subjects to ensure we are keeping those teachers in the classroom. These include early-career payments for new chemistry, languages, maths and physics teachers and a student loan reimbursement scheme for languages, science and computing teachers.

Climate Change: Curriculum

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure the national curriculum includes (a) up to date scientific understanding of climate change and (b) the role of human behaviour in affecting the global climate.

Nick Gibb: It is important that young people are taught about climate change and the impact of human actions on the environment. Topics related to this are included in both the science and geography curricula and qualifications. These were developed with subject experts and reflect the latest scientific and academic understanding so that children fully appreciate the causes of climate change and what needs to be done to tackle it.For example, in primary school science, pupils are taught about how weather changes across the four seasons and how human actions affect environments. In secondary school science, pupils are taught about the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the effect this has on the climate. This is expanded on in GCSE science where pupils consider the evidence for additional anthropogenic causes of climate change. As part of GCSE geography, pupils look at the causes, consequences of, and responses to, extreme weather conditions and natural weather hazards. This includes understanding the interactions between people and environments.

Free School Meals: Surrey

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children were eligible for free school meals in (a) Woking and (b) Surrey in the past year.

Michelle Donelan: The number and proportion of children in schools in Woking constituency and Surrey local authority who were eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM) is given in the table below.   Number of pupils eligible and claiming FSMPercentage of pupils eligible and claiming FSMSurrey13,2818%Woking constituency1,2859%Source: School census, as at January 2019  Figures include pupils in state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units (including free schools and academy alternative provision).This data is published at national, regional, local authority and school level in annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release. The 2019 publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2019.

Wigan University Technical College: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what payments were made to his Department by Wigan University Technical College as a result of the overestimation of student numbers.

Michelle Donelan: As part of the established pupil number adjustment process where an academy trust’s funding agreement allows for the basis of funding to be initially calculated using estimated pupil numbers, the funding is subsequently aligned with the actual pupil numbers returned in the school census through these adjustments and recoveries or additional payments are applied as appropriate.For Wigan University Technical College, £609,038 of advanced funding remains outstanding.

Leader of the House

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid for Separated Children) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019

Afzal Khan: To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the debate on EU Settlement Scheme: Looked-after Children and Care Leavers on 3 September 2019, whether he has plans to bring forward the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid for Separated Children) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019 for debate.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the debate on EU Settlement Scheme: Looked-after Children and Care Leavers on 3 September 2019, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the provision of time for a debate on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid for Separated Children) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: I have regular discussions with other members of the Cabinet on parliamentary business and legislation. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid for Separated Children) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019 has now been considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and is scheduled for debate in the Twenty-First Delegated Legislation Committee on Tuesday 8 October at 0855.

Carry Over Motions

Sandy Martin: To ask the Leader of the House, which of the 48 remaining orders and notices listed on the Order Paper for Monday 30 September 2019 will be carried over into a subsequent session of Parliament following any prorogation of the current session.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: I refer the Hon member to paragraph 8.6 of Erskine May, which sets out the effect of prorogation on business. Erskine May is now available online and paragraph 8.6 can be viewed at https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/6499/effect-of-prorogation/. Any primary legislation that has been subject to a carry-over motion agreed by the House will be carried over into the second session.

Social Media: Harassment

Ian Austin: To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he has made of the effect on political debate and discussion of anonymous abuse and threats on social media.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: Democracy is a cornerstone of British values and key to a healthy democracy is having respectful, vibrant and open debate. However, this freedom cannot be an excuse to cause harm or spread hatred and a line is crossed when disagreement mutates into intimidation, violence or abuse. The Government recognises that rising levels of intimidation in public life can stop talented people, particularly women and those from minority backgrounds, from standing for public office. In April this year, the Government published the Online Harms White Paper, which sets out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agricultural Products: UK Trade With EU

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118358, what progress her Department has made on developing the UK’s system for the management of agri-food imports and exports with EU countries.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agricultural Products: UK Trade With EU

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2017 to Question 118331, what progress has been made on getting the best possible deal that allows the UK to continue to have tariff-free and frictionless access for goods and services into the European market.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food Supply

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on food supplies in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Crops

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to support the import of (a) fertilisers and (b) other crop treatments in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: In preparations for no deal, the Government has taken steps to secure additional freight capacity, guaranteeing the supply of critical goods. In the event of no deal and with regard to crop treatments, the same pesticide products will continue to be authorised for use in the UK immediately after withdrawal. After withdrawal, businesses who trade with the EU will broadly be subject to customs controls in the same way as businesses who are trading with the rest of the world. HMRC has announced that a number of temporary easements are in place to help businesses make this transition, including measures to simplify tariffs and customs declarations. Existing EU regulations for marketing fertilisers will be converted into UK law in the event of a no deal departure. Products sold as EC fertilisers can be sold in the UK with the same packaging for two years as long as they continue to comply with the EU regulations. This system has been developed to ensure continuity of supply of fertiliser imports from the EU to the UK farming industry. The information has been published in a guidance document available on gov.uk:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manufacturing-and-marketing-fertilisers-if-there-is-no-brexit-deal The UK is a net importer of fertilisers and is consequently a valuable market for exports from other countries. We are expecting the supply of fertilisers to remain consistent, and to continue to use existing trade routes which do not include the Port of Dover. We will continue to look at all likely EU withdrawal scenarios with a view to limiting consequential impacts on the supply chain and trade.

Seed Potatoes: Exports

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to support seed potato exporters in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food: Exports

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect on UK food exports of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve the UK’s Ocean Health Index score.

Zac Goldsmith: The UK Marine Strategy puts in place the framework for achieving good environmental status in UK waters. A recent consultation on the progress made towards GES showed that whilst progress was being made further work was needed. The updated UK Marine Strategy Part I assesses an array of ocean health factors as well as economic and social analyses of the way we use our marine environment and the benefits it provides us. The updated assessments will be published later this year, giving improved information to the scientists working on the UK’s Ocean Assessment Score. The UK is already a global leader in protecting seas, the ocean and marine life. Our work includes the creation of 355 Marine Protected Areas protecting 25% of UK waters, including the recent designation of 41 Marine Conservation Zones. On 8 June we announced a review into Highly Protected Marine Areas in England, which is due to report by early 2020.

Food: Imports

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect farmers from imported food that is produced to lower environmental and animal welfare standards in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 August 2019 to Question 280135 on Agriculture: Subsidies, if she will publish a list of the 46 pilots which have been signed up to the Environmental Land Management Scheme; and whether those pilots are receiving financial compensation for taking part in that scheme.

George Eustice: To support the development of Environmental Land Management Schemes, we are undertaking a number of tests and trials working with farmers and land managers to co-design elements of the new scheme. The work is being facilitated by a range of stakeholders, including farmer groups, representative bodies and non-governmental organisations, and covers a range of geographies and sectors. 46 proposals are currently being taken forward in phase 1 and we anticipate that a number of these will begin soon with Defra reimbursing agreed costs incurred in their delivery. We have received a further 200 proposals for phase 2. We will prioritise those proposals from phase 2 that fill gaps identified from the coverage of phase 1 proposals. We will communicate the results of our analysis of the phase 2 proposals to stakeholders later this month. 



Phase 1 proposals table 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 31.76 KB)

Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the legislative timetable is for the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sharks: Animal Products

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent the export of shark fins from the UK.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tons of shark fins were exported from the UK in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: In 2014, 2015 and 2016 there were no exports of shark fin products. In 2017 there were 50 tonnes exported and in 2018 there were 35 tonnes exported. The UK has banned shark finning through the EU Council resolution 605/2013 that states that all sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached to the carcass to reduce the risk of finning occurring. We continue to champion this provision being adopted globally. There are no legal constraints on exporting shark fins from the UK per se. However, we have domestic legislation (e.g. the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Tope Order) which places emphasis on conservation of threatened or endangered species, establishing a legal framework for the protection of such species as well as jurisdiction over fisheries. In addition to domestic legislation, there is regional protection through rules in the Common Fisheries Policy – either through prohibitions, catch limits and/or gear restrictions (e.g. deep sea net restrictions), and through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). We also have international protection through a number of agreements such as the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) and the Sharks MoU. The UK continues to press for stronger regional and international controls. The UK played a leading role in successfully championing the listing of an additional 18 shark species to appendix II of CITES at the Conference on Parties in August this year. A CITES listing provides significant conservation benefit by ensuring trade is monitored and can only take place in a sustainable manner.

Fisheries: Brexit

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ensure the enforcement of UK fishing waters in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food: Shortages

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 7 of Operation Yellowhammer, HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions, what assessment he has made of the (a) availability of fresh food in each nation and region in the UK and (b) foodstuffs at greatest risk of scarcity in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Forests

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Environmental Land Management scheme test and trials projects will (a) incorporate an objective to increase tree cover through woodland creation, agroforestry or increased hedgerows and (b) undertake to investigate carbon storage and mitigation.

George Eustice: The cornerstone of our new agricultural policy is the development of a new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs), which will be underpinned by the payment of public money for the provision of public goods. In determining what ELMs will pay for, we are mapping the environmental public goods for ELMs, the interventions that may contribute to their delivery and the evidence base that supports this. We recognise that woodland creation may contribute to several of the environmental public goods that ELMs will pay for, including mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, thriving plants and wildlife, and clean air. Activities that therefore may be paid for include tree planting, woodland creation and woodland management, including through natural regeneration. An evidence framework has been put in place to ensure that all land management interventions which ELMs will incentivise will be based on up to date scientific evidence. We set up tests and trials as a means to support the development of the ELMs. The work is being facilitated by a range of stakeholders, including farmer groups, representative bodies and non-governmental organisations and will cover a range of geographies and sectors. Tests and trials provide us with a mechanism to co-design and test the new scheme with farmers and land managers and understand how it works in a real life environment. We will not use tests and trials to validate if specific delivery methods achieve particular environmental outcomes, such as woodland creation or carbon storage, but will focus instead on the building blocks of the new scheme.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to ensure that (a) silvo-arable and (b) silvo-pastoral systems are included in Environmental Land Management Scheme trials.

George Eustice: Tests and trials will not assess if new practices or interventions achieve environmental outcomes. This is because testing environmental outcomes would require a much longer timeframe and our initial priority is testing those elements necessary to ensure the successful commencement of the National Pilot in 2021. However, following the submission of phase 1 proposals, the Tests and Trials team have identified gaps within the existing tests and trials and made these areas a priority for phase 2. These gaps include certain sectors of the industry which were under-represented.

Agriculture

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of whole farm agroecological systems.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Rain Forests: Amazonia

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase public awareness of the effect of the beef and leather industry on deforestation in the Amazon.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department supports the transition to agroecological farming by 2030 as recommended by the Royal Society of Arts Food, Farming and Countryside Commission report published on 16 July 2019.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a community supported agriculture start-up fund.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on creating financial incentives for local authorities to invest county farms estates.

George Eustice: I value the role of county farm smallholdings, and particularly the opportunities they offer for new entrant farmers. We are considering whether we can use funds to refresh the county farm model by supporting local authorities to reinvest in their farms, helping with facilitation funding so that the farms are more of a hub for new entrants, and working with them to make it easier to move tenants out so that we have a constant pipe stream of new opportunities for new entrants. Alongside that, we are considering whether that can be broadened beyond the traditional county farm, which has existed for many decades since the war, to include some of the peri-urban farms, which often have links to the agro-ecology movement and are often smaller community-based groups. Where local authorities have land that they can make available, we might be able to support the fostering of those schemes, which can be popular.

Fisheries

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer HMG Reasonable worst case planning assumptions paragraph 19, what additional funding his Department has allocated for the purpose of enforcement of territorial fishing waters and increasing response capability in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food Supply

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on food supplies of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and what plans her Department has to maintain food supplies in that event.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Imports

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the preparedness of the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) to replace the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System; and what discussions the Government has had with representatives of port health authorities on contingency planning for IPAFFS after the UK has left the EU.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Import Controls: EU Law

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has plans to implement EU Official Control Regulation 2017/625 on the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.

George Eustice: The new Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 will apply in EU member states from 14 December 2019. How and when the UK implements this Regulation will depend on our departure from the EU. If we leave the EU with a deal, there is likely to be an implementation period until at least 31 December 2020. During this period, EU law will apply including the Official Controls Regulation. The UK will therefore need to implement this new Regulation at the same time as EU member states on 14 December 2019. In a no-deal situation, the UK will be able to choose whether and when to apply these measures as the Regulation will not apply automatically to the UK. However, UK exporters to the EU will have to meet the import requirements that apply to imports from third countries.

Animals: Imports

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether live animal consignments designated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) or non-CITES will be permitted to enter the UK using (a) the Port of Dover (b) Eurotunnel, (c) Harwich and (d) Portsmouth.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ports: Import Controls

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether UK ports will be required to undertake sanitary and phytosanitary controls on high risk food and feed from the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement; and how long such controls are expected to be in place.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Environment Protection: British Overseas Territories

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many submissions were received in response to the call for evidence on environmental funding for the British Overseas Territories; and when her Department plans to publish its response to that consultation.

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department’s response to the call for evidence on environmental funding for the British Overseas Territories will include plans to replace the EU environmental funds of BEST and LIFE.

Zac Goldsmith: A total of 49 responses were submitted to the Call for Evidence on biodiversity and conservation funding in the Overseas Territories, and a summary of those responses will be published in due course. Decisions on future funding arrangements for the Overseas Territories, including any domestic replacements for EU funding, will be considered as part of the next full spending review.

Food Supply: Climate Change

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) understand and (b) mitigate the risks to the food security of the UK population due to global climate change.

Zac Goldsmith: The second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) published in 2017 identifies risks to domestic and international food production and trade as one of the UK’s top six risks from climate change. The second National Adaptation Programme (NAP) published in 2018, sets out a plan of actions across Government to address these risks (amongst others identified in the CCRA) over the following 5 years. Specifically the NAP includes actions to ensure a food supply chain which is resilient to the effects of a changing climate. As part of the action referenced above, we are reviewing the UK Food Security Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of UK food security in a global context. It was last published as a whole document in 2010 although the underpinning statistics are updated and monitored on a regular basis. The Assessment has six themes: Global Food Security; Global Resource Sustainability; UK Availability and Access; UK Supply Chain Resilience; Household Food Security; Consumer Safety and Confidence. The Government has also commissioned an independent review to develop recommendations to help shape a national food strategy. The National Food Strategy will carry out an integrated analysis of our food system, looking across the issues of food security, climate change and health to develop a series of recommendations for Government.

Food Supply

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the biggest risk is to the UK's food security in the (a) short, (b) medium and (c) long-term.

Zac Goldsmith: Food is one of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Sectors in the UK. Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have joint responsibility for food as CNI. Defra is responsible for security of supply, and the FSA for food safety and food crime. Food supply is a devolved issue. Defra produces a Sector Security and Resilience Plan (SSRP) which is updated annually and a summary is publicly available.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/786206/20190215_PublicSummaryOfSectorSecurityAndResiliencePlans2018.pdf This document sets out the risk landscape through identifying the main risks to the sector as described in the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA). and how these are managed. The UK food sector has a highly effective and resilient food supply chain, owing to the size, geographic diversity and competitive nature of the industry. While there are no individually critical food assets, the main risks arise from recognised dependencies on other critical services such as fuel, energy, transport and data communications.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Statutory Instruments

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many statutory instruments her Department needs Parliament to pass before the UK leaves the EU on 31 October 2019.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture: Scotland

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 25 July 2019, Official Report, column 1497, on priorities for Government, what the timescale is for the allocation of the £160 million to the Scottish Government.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ash Dieback Disease: Disease Control

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle ash dieback.

George Eustice: Extensive action has been taken on ash dieback since it was first officially found in 2012. We have restricted the movement of ash and invested more than £6m in ash dieback research. We have conducted the world’s largest screening trials and in June 2019 we published the ash research strategy – this set out priority areas for future research, including the UK led work to identify tolerant trees. We will be planting the first UK archive of tolerant trees in 2020. We are continuing to support landowners to manage ash dieback on the ground by providing guidance, including a toolkit for local authorities and large land mangers which was launched earlier this year and has been downloaded over 16,500 times.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Crayfish: Pest Control

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to tackle invasive crayfish species in UK rivers.

Rebecca Pow: Policy on non-native crayfish is devolved; the following information is relevant to England and Wales. We are in the process of eradicating the only known population of white river crayfish in England and Wales, using a natural pyrethrum based biocide. The trapping of crayfish is tightly regulated to prevent deliberate or accidental spread of crayfish. The Environment Agency has been active in instigating research into methods for managing non-native crayfish populations and mitigating their impact on the environment. On 8 March the Government laid the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (“the Order”) which applies across England and Wales. The Order is a key part of meeting the requirements of EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation (1143/2014), a core purpose of which is to take concerted action to tackle the threat that invasive species pose to our biodiversity and ecosystems. The Order will introduce an enforcement regime that will include the following non-native invasive crayfish species: signal crayfish, marbled crayfish, virile crayfish, spiny cheeked crayfish, and red swamped crayfish. The Order will introduce both civil and criminal sanctions including both fixed and variable monetary penalties and custodial sentences for the most serious infringements of the EU Regulation. On 18 July the Government launched a consultation on management measures for widely spread invasive alien species, including the signal crayfish, which closes on 12 September. Under the Invasive Alien Species Regulation, management measures must be put in place for widespread invasive alien species. The consultation asks for views on ways to manage populations of species of concern including for specified invasive crayfish species. The consultation can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invasive-alien-species-management-measures-for-widely-spread-species-in-england-and-wales We continue to work with water companies to improve biosecurity measures, including through the Clean, Check, Dry campaign.

Squirrels

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) protect red squirrels in Northumberland and (b) tackle the damaging effect of the invasive grey squirrel species.

Rebecca Pow: This is a devolved matter. The information below only relates to England. The Government is committed to protecting and expanding red squirrel populations and tackling the threats that grey squirrels pose to them. The Forestry Commission and Natural England are members of Red Squirrels Northern England, a red squirrel conservation partnership project managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which works in seven northern counties, including Northumberland. The Forestry Commission has also partnered with the Mammals Trust UK and Newcastle University on the Northumberland Kielder Forest Project, which considers the role that forest management can have in conservation of the species. The Forestry Commission undertakes actions to protect red squirrels from the impact of grey squirrels more widely as outlined in the Grey Squirrel Action Plan for England. This includes providing woodland management advice on maintaining red squirrel habitat and managing grey squirrels, including advising land-owners that receive funding through the Countryside Stewardship scheme who choose to control grey squirrels. Defra, Natural England and the Forestry Commission are signatories to the United Kingdom Squirrel Accord, working with over 30 other signatories, including Red Squirrels Northern England, to secure and expand red squirrel populations. Defra, in partnership with the Accord, has provided funding for work by the Animal and Plant Health Agency for the development of a fertility control method for grey squirrels. This research continues to show promise as one potentially effective and humane method to control grey squirrel numbers in the longer term.

Japanese Knotweed: North East

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the strategy to deal with invasive Japanese knotweed in (a) Wansbeck constituency, (b) Northumberland and (c) the North East.

George Eustice: There has been no formal assessment of this nature. Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), which makes it an offence to allow the plant to escape, or cause it to grow in the wild. Local councils and police have the power to issue Community Protection Notices against individuals or businesses who persistently or continually act in a way that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. A number of authorities are taking action to control Japanese Knotweed. This includes the Tees River Trust which is involved in managing release sites for the biocontrol of Japanese knotweed.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of her Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Plastics: Seas and Oceans

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce plastic waste in oceans.

Rebecca Pow: The UK is committed to tackling the scourge of marine litter and we are making significant progress towards addressing this issue. Our approach so far has been to reduce needless plastic waste entering the marine environment in the first instance.Our ban on microbeads in cosmetic and personal care products, one of the strongest in the world, came into force in June 2018. Our plastic bag charge has led to a 90% reduction in the use of plastic carrier bags in the main retailers and last year alone raised over £51 million for environmental causes. We have consulted on plans to extend the charge to all retailers and on increasing the minimum 5p charge to at least 10p. In May 2019, we announced that a ban on the supply of plastic straws, stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds to the end user will come into force from April 2020. These policies are helping to deliver our Resources and Waste Strategy for England, our framework for eliminating all avoidable plastic waste. It builds on commitments in our 25 Year Environment Plan and sets out plans to maximise the value we get from resources, minimise waste, promote a circular economy, and better protect the environment.Marine litter is a transboundary problem which requires international cooperation; that is why we are leading action on the global threat of marine litter. We continue to actively engage internationally through OSPAR, the G7 and the G20, and the UN. In April 2018, the Prime Minister announced the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, a ground-breaking initiative working with our Commonwealth partners to reduce marine plastic pollution. To help deliver this, we committed an ambitious package of up to £70 million of funding to drive research and innovation.

Incinerators

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many waste incineration plants burning (a) residential, (b) commercial and (c) industrial waste were licensed in each of the last five years.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency is responsible for issuing environmental permits for waste incineration plants in England. The following numbers of new permits have been issued for relevant plants over the last five years: 2014: Three plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste and one plant permitted to burn hazardous industrial wastes 2015: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste 2016: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste 2017: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste 2018: One plant permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste 2019 to date: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2017.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Rural Development Programme

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to support new programmes that would have been eligible for Rural Development Programme funding after 31 October 2019.

George Eustice: The Government has guaranteed that any Rural Development Programme projects where funding has been agreed before the end of 2020 will be funded for their full lifetime. It will ensure continued funding for these projects until they finish and means that we can continue to sign new projects during 2019 and 2020, after the UK leaves the EU. Furthermore the Government will maintain the commitment to provide the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of the Parliament. The Government will confirm the exact funding available in due course.

Food: Waste Disposal

Faisal Rashid: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will (a) bring forward legislative proposals to require local authorities to provide food waste bins and (b) allocate funding to local authorities to provide those waste bins.

Rebecca Pow: The Government set out its commitment to working towards zero food waste to landfill by 2030 in the Resources and Waste Strategy which we published in 2018.Our recent ‘consultation on consistency in household and business recycling collections in England’ sought views on the collection of food waste from households. The majority of respondents were in favour of this measure. Government has therefore said that it will bring in legislation so that all English local authorities have a duty to collect food waste separately from other waste every week so that this food waste can be recycled or composted.The Government has committed to funding any new additional burdens arising from this new statutory duty to local authorities including provision of equipment such as food waste bins.

Electronic Training Aids

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2019 to Question 254811 on Electronic Training Aids, when the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the use of electronic shock collars.

Zac Goldsmith: Defra continues to work up the necessary legislation needed to prohibit the use of remote controlled hand-held electronic training collars for dogs which will be laid before Parliament in due course.

Food Supply

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish her Department's latest assessment of the effect on the supply of food to the UK of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Environmental Protection: Expenditure

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 and 9 September to Questions 282507, 282510, 282514, 282515, 282516, 282517, 282518, 282519, 282520, 282521, 282522, 282523, 282524, 282525, 282527, 282528 and 282529, what programmes were included in the Natural environment and atmosphere improvement programmes under the heading Improve the Environment; and if she will publish the (a) the Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, (b) Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit and (c) Annually Managed Expenditure funding allocated to each of those programmes for 2019-20.

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 and 9 September to Questions 282507, 282510, 282514, 282515, 282516, 282517, 282518, 282519, 282520, 282521, 282522, 282523, 282524, 282525, 282527, 282528 and 282529, what programmes were included in the Wildlife, international, climate and forestry programme under the heading Improve the Environment; and if she will publish the (a) Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, (b) Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit and (c) Annually Managed Expenditure funding allocated to each of those programmes for 2019-20.

George Eustice: Please see the table attached that sets out 2019-20 planned funding for specific programmes. Negative figures show overall planned savings or income. 



2019-20 Planned Funding Table 
(Word Document, 12.92 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has budgeted for (a) payments to farmers, (b) administration apparatus for payments and (c) civil service hours to process claims and payments to replace Common Agricultural Policy payments after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Clean Bus Technology Fund: Wirral Council

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding from the Clean Bus Technology Fund her Department has allocated to Wirral Council.

Rebecca Pow: We have not awarded any Clean Bus Technology Fund funding to Wirral Council, however we have allocated funding to Liverpool City Region Combined Authority of which the Wirral is a constituent part. In total, through four different rounds of the Clean Bus Technology Fund, we have allocated £6,833,026 to the Combined Authority.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she had made of the implications for her policies of the findings of the Impact Assessment, Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme on beverage containers, published on 15 February 2019.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) costs and (b) benefits to local government finances of the introduction of a deposit return scheme.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Waste Disposal: Finance

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to inform local authorities of changes to financing waste collection as a result of the policies contained in the document entitled, Our Waste, our resources: a strategy for England.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Impact Assessment entitled, Introducing a deposit return scheme on beverage containers included an assessment of the changes proposed to the waste regime that were included in the strategy entitled, Our waste, our resources.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Agriculture

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent advice her Department has issued to the farming sector in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with a deal and (b) without a deal.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Waste: Exports

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of people prosecuted for illegal waste exports in each of the last 12 months.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Plastics: Packaging

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ban the (a) production and (b) use of polystyrene plastic packaging in the UK.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Packaging: Recycling

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of obligating all retailers to ensure that the packaging of products sold can be recycled locally before stocking those products.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Fish: Supermarkets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of supermarkets on the sale of endangered fish species.

George Eustice: The Government regularly engages with UK retailers on a wide variety of policy areas, including on the sustainability of fish stocks in UK waters and beyond.

Plastics

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further steps the Government is taking to reduce the use of single-use plastics; and what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of levies to further reduce the use of plastics.

Rebecca Pow: Last year the Government published the Resources and Waste Strategy, setting out our plans to reduce, reuse and recycle more plastic than we do now. Our target is to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste throughout the life of the 25 Year Environment Plan, but for the most problematic plastics we are going faster - that is why we commit to work towards all plastic packaging placed on the UK market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.We have made good progress, the Government’s plastic bag charge has led to a 90% reduction in the use of plastic carrier bags in the main retailers and raised in last year alone over £51 million for environmental causes. The Government also recently consulted on plans to extend the charge to all retailers and on increasing the minimum charge to at least 10p. We have recently consulted on a suite of measures to help overhaul the waste system. Collectively our proposals are aimed at boosting recycled content in plastic packaging, through a proposed tax on plastic packaging which does not meet a minimum threshold of at least 30% recycled content. This will make producers foot the bill for handling the packaging they place on the market when it becomes waste, and ending the confusion over household recycling by introducing more consistency in collection services. In addition, earlier this year the Government announced that a ban on the supply of plastic straws, stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds to the end user will come into force from April 2020. Industry is also taking action, in April last year, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched their world-leading UK Plastics Pact, with support from the Government, accounting for over 85% of plastic packaging used in UK supermarkets. The Pact brings organisations from across the supply chain together, from plastic manufacturers through to waste management companies, with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated, including one to take actions to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging items.

Agriculture: Expenditure

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 and 9 September to Questions 282507, 282510, 282514, 282515, 282516, 282517, 282518, 282519, 282520, 282521, 282522, 282523, 282524, 282525, 282527, 282528 and 282529, what (a) programmes and (b) deliverables were included in the Food, sustainable and competitive farming programme under the heading Food and Farming; and if she will publish the (i) Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, (ii) Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit and (iii) Annually Managed Expenditure funding allocated to each of those programmes for 2019-20.

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 and 9 September to Questions 282507, 282510, 282514, 282515, 282516, 282517, 282518, 282519, 282520, 282521, 282522, 282523, 282524, 282525, 282527, 282528 and 282529, what specific programmes and deliverables to tackle waste and promote recycling are included under which headings; and if she will publish the (a) Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, (b) Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit and (c) Annually Managed Expenditure funding allocated to each of those programmes for 2019-20.

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 and 9 September to Questions 282507, 282510, 282514, 282515, 282516, 282517, 282518, 282519, 282520, 282521, 282522, 282523, 282524, 282525, 282527, 282528 and 282529, what specific funding for National Parks is included under which headings; and if she will publish the (a) Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, (b) Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit and (c) Annually Managed Expenditure funding allocated to National Parks for 2019-20.

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 and 9 September to Questions 282507, 282510, 282514, 282515, 282516, 282517, 282518, 282519, 282520, 282521, 282522, 282523, 282524, 282525, 282527, 282528 and 282529, what air quality programmes and deliverables are included under which headings; and if she will publish the (a) resource departmental expenditure limit, (b) capital departmental expenditure limit and (c) annually managed expenditure funding allocated to air quality programmes and deliverables for 2019-20.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Climate Change

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Reducing UK emissions - 2019 Progress Report to Parliament, published by the Committee on Climate Change on 10 July 2010, for what reasons 21 of the 56 risks and opportunities identified in the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment have no formal actions in the National Adaptation Programme.

Rebecca Pow: The Government welcomes the Committee on Climate Change’s progress report to Parliament. As required, we will respond formally by the deadline of 15 October.

European Environment Agency

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the UK Government plans to seek membership of or co-operator country status with the European Environment Agency in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

Rebecca Pow: Our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiations. As part of Exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States our future status and arrangements with regard to EU bodies and their environmental functions.

European Environment Agency

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations the UK Government has received on the UK’s relationship with the European Environment Agency from (a) the Scottish Government, (b) the Welsh Government and (c) the Northern Ireland Executive.

Rebecca Pow: We are committed to working closely with the Devolved Administrations as the UK exits the EU. Defra Ministers and officials speak regularly with counterparts from the Devolved Administrations on issues relating to EU exit, including at a regular Inter-Ministerial Group. This includes discussions on the environment and future relationship with EU bodies.

European Environment Agency

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on the monitoring, measuring and reporting of environmental outcomes in the event that the UK ends its membership of the European Environment Agency.

Rebecca Pow: The Government is committed to high environmental standards and to increasing, not weakening, environmental protections as we leave the EU. To support this, current EU legislative requirements concerning monitoring, measuring and reporting have been reflected in EU exit Statutory Instruments, and will continue to be implemented after the UK leaves the EU. Our preparations for leaving the EU reflect this, including replacing functions previously carried out by the European Environment Agency.

Birds: Pest Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the general licences for bird control that were introduced in April 2019.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Angling

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the results of the survey conducted in 2016 by her Department and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science on the effect on the economy of recreational angling.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Tree Planting

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase the rate of tree planting.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Litter

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle littering.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Litter: Fines

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the maximum fine for littering.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food: Waste Disposal

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of local authorities provide food waste collections as part of their refuse collection service.

Rebecca Pow: In 2018/19 167 local authorities out of 327 (51%) offered food waste collection services for residents.One of the commitments in the Resource and Waste Strategy was to work towards zero food waste to landfill by 2030. Our ‘consultation on consistency in household and business recycling collections England’ sought views on food waste being collected separately from dry recycling materials and other types of waste from households and businesses. Given the support for this proposal, the Government will legislate to ensure that every local authority in England provides a separate food waste collections from 2023.

Plastic Bags: Biodegradability

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to make all plastic bags sold compostable.

Rebecca Pow: The introduction of the 5p Carrier Bag Charge has been highly effective at reducing consumption of single-use carrier bags. Composting standard EN 13432 defines the requirements for biodegradability of products required to meet the standard. This requires the use of an industrial composter. Compostable bags can be disposed of in foodwaste collections but only if the householder’s local authority uses an industrial composting process to treat the waste (some use anaerobic digestion). The Government would need to ensure that there was the right infrastructure in place and that the environmental benefits outweighed using conventional plastics before legislating to mandate that all plastic bags were compostable. That evidence is not yet available.

Rain Forests: Amazonia

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that no products linked to Amazon deforestation are sold in the UK.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Game: Birds

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will review the law on the caging of game birds.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food: Waste Disposal

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase the provision of separate food waste collections.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Plastics: Compost

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to compost bioplastics.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Packaging: Waste Disposal

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of how to dispose of compostable packaging.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Wheat: Allergies

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the allergenic materials in compostable straws made of wheat.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Plastic Bags: Biodegradability

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage businesses to use compostable carrier bags.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Packaging: Biodegradability

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to require takeaway containers and similar items to be compostable.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Plastics: Packaging

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for plastic packaging manufacturers and importers.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pets: Disease Control

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing compulsory tick treatment for pets at UK borders.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which animals will be covered by the ban on trophy hunting imports to the UK.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timeframe is for the ban on trophy hunting imports to come into force.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which countries will be banned from importing hunting trophies into the UK.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether animal (a) bones, (b) hands, (c) tails and (d) other parts are included in the ban on hunting trophy imports to the UK.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the extent to which trophy hunting imports arrive in the UK via other countries to those from which the trophies originated.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will impose an immediate moratorium on trophy hunting imports.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Imports

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent trophy hunting imports.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Plastics: Waste

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is  taking to reduce plastic waste in fast food outlets.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sewage: Waste Disposal

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential financial effect of changes to septic tank regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2020 on property owners.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sewage: Waste Disposal

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to compensate property owners with septic tanks for the expense of (a) upgrading and (b) replacing existing tanks in order to make those tanks compliant by 1 January 2020.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Marine Protected Areas

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to expand the size of the Blue Belt.

George Eustice: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Climate Change: Curriculum

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the role of schools in promoting knowledge of the effect of human behaviour on climate change.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animals: Conservation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of UK (a) mammals and (b) birds at risk of extinction.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Wildlife: Conservation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect UK wildlife from extinction.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Trees: Urban Areas

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to develop a national plan for inner city trees.

Zac Goldsmith: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2017.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department plans to publish civil service advice on the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ports

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans to undertake test exercises at UK ports to ensure the preparedness of those ports in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit: Statutory Instruments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the oral contribution of 27 June 2019, Official Report, column 795,  how many Statutory Instruments will not have been enacted in the event that the UK exits the EU on 31 October; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: The Government is confident that all the necessary legislation will be in force to ensure a functioning UK statute book on the 31 October.To date, the Government has laid over 600 Brexit statutory instruments (SIs) to prepare the UK for leaving the EU in any scenario.All Brexit-related SIs laid before the House can be found on legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK. The SIs and their accompanying documents will indicate their procedure. Debates for affirmative SIs will be scheduled in the normal way and time will be found for debates once the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee have had time to consider the SIs.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Termination of Employment

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the average length of service was for staff that have left his Department since its formation.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Temporary Employment

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what proportion of his Department's staff are on short-term contracts.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit: Scotland

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, for what reasons the UK Government rejected the Scottish Government's proposals for the UK to remain in the Single Market and Customs Union, as set out in its 2016 paper, Scotland's place in Europe.

James Duddridge: The Prime Minister has been clear that we will be leaving the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances. The people gave their instructions to Parliament in the referendum in 2016, and now we must deliver on that pledge.The UK Government’s ambition is for an ambitious FTA, as sovereign equals, without obligation to vast alignment or harmonisation commitments. This will involve leaving the Customs Union and Single Market, in order to have full regulatory control so that we can be free to set our own laws and to strike trade deals.The details of this partnership will be a matter for negotiation with the EU after we leave the European Union. We are preparing for that negotiation, and will work with a wide range of partners, including the devolved administrations, to ensure a successful outcome that delivers in the interests of all parts of the UK.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the Government's level of preparedness within the automotive industry in September 2019 compared to March 2019; and what plans the Government has put in place to protect the automotive industry's just-in-time supply chain.

James Duddridge: The UK automotive industry remains one of our great success stories, and we are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive after we leave the European Union. The Government is in regular dialogue with businesses in the automotive sector, including those in the supply chain.We recognise that adapting to new regulatory requirements takes time, so the Government will provide continuity in goods regulation for a temporary period after exit day. If UK manufacturers, distributors and importers continue to meet EU requirements, their goods can still be placed on the EU market.Since March 2019 the Government has updated technical notices on placing manufactured goods on the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-uk-market-if-theres-no-brexit-deal#non-harmonised-goods and EU: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-eu-internal-market-if-theres-no-deal markets after Brexit. There also exists dedicated, tailored advice available for the automotive sector. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-automotive-sector-and-preparing-for-eu-exitIn the event of a no deal exit, tariffs will not apply to car parts. Furthermore, the Government will continue to apply zero tariffs to steel imports, ensuring the continuation of supply of a key material for UK automotive production.

Brexit

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the oral contribution of 25 September 2019 from the Prime Minister, Official Report column 791, when he plans to publish the details of the cross-party talks on the UK's exit from the EU.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit: Cost Benefit Analysis

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will publish his Department's cost-benefit analysis of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit: Negotiations

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will set out the details of the UK’s negotiation request to the EU on the terms of the UK's departure from the EU; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit: Negotiations

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has for a White Paper setting out what the Government is seeking to achieve in negotiation of the UK's (a) exit from and (b) new partnership with the EU.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

James Duddridge: Between 1 June 2019 and 31 August 2019, the Secretary of State met with Eoin Parker, Chief Scientific Adviser at DExEU, on 8 occasions. It should be noted that this is a dual role for Eoin Parker, and is combined with his position as the co-Director of Market Access and Budget.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of his Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

James Duddridge: Details of Ministers’ meetings are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the findings of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Motor Industry Facts 2019 report that in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal 52.6 per cent of UK produced cars are exported to the EU, what steps the Government plans to take to support the automotive industry in the event that the UK leave the EU without a deal and exports of those cars are subject to a 10 per cent tariff in line with WTO rules.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Security Benefits

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps are being taken to ensure (a) asylum support payments and (b) other welfare payments will (i) be available to and (ii) provide adequate support to those most vulnerable to (A) rising food prices and (B) food supply disruption in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Drugs

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if she will publish her Department's latest assessment of the effect on the supply of medicines to the UK of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Brexit

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if his Department will publish their most recent impact assessment of the effects on the UK of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many meetings officials in his Departmental have had with EU officials in each of the last twelve months.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Industry: Northern Ireland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with representatives of Northern Irish industry on the effect of the Prime Minister’s proposed EU exit deal and the imposition of a North-South and an East-West border.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Business: Northern Ireland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of the Prime Minister’s proposed EU exit deal on businesses in Northern Ireland with regard to the imposition of checks on both the North-South and the East-West border.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Business: Northern Ireland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Northern Irish businesses of the Government's proposals of 2 October 2019 on the UK's exit from the EU.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Food

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, at which forthcoming EU meetings on food and drink will UK officials not be present.

James Duddridge: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Crispin Odey

David Linden: To ask the Attorney General,  if he will publish (a) the outcome of all meetings and (b) all call logs between Ministers of his Department and Mr Crispin Odey.

Michael Ellis: Details of Ministers’ meetings are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. There have been no Ministerial meetings or calls between Mr Crispin Odey and Ministers at the Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General: Travel

Ruth Jones: To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2017.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.

Michael Ellis: The Government publishes data on ministerial overseas travel on a quarterly basis in arrears on GOV.UK. Information on costs on overseas travel from July to September 2019 is expected to be published in December 2019. It is not possible to calculate the amount spent on domestic Ministerial travel without incurring disproportionate cost.

Attorney General: Official Hospitality

Ruth Jones: To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department spent on refreshments in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.

Michael Ellis: The following table shows how much the Attorney General’s Office spent on refreshments in 2017 and 2018 respectively:  20172018Refreshments spending (£)0.00603.44

Attorney General: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Attorney General, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Ellis: Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely.The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.

Slavery: Prosecutions

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for modern slavery.

Michael Ellis: The CPS has had considerable success in increasing prosecutions of modern slavery cases involving the exploitation of vulnerable people. The number of modern slavery prosecutions increased from 284 in 2017-18 to 322 in 2018-19, an increase of 13.4%. These cases are handled by specialist units with prosecutors who have the training, expertise and experience to deal with this difficult casework. The CPS prosecutes offenders following an investigation by law enforcement, and referral to the CPS for advice and prosecution. Early engagement between the prosecutors and investigators is therefore central to a successful prosecution in all these complex cases. Prosecutors work closely with law enforcement to build robust cases, and provide early investigative advice, with the aim of lessening or removing the need to rely solely upon the evidence of vulnerable victims. The CPS works with international partners to disrupt modern slavery crimes, and to strengthen the prosecution response overseas. The CPS maintains an overseas network of Criminal Justice Advisors to improve mutual legal assistance and extradition co-operation and work with authorities in those countries to improve their local capability to counter serious crime affecting the UK.

Trials

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2019 to Question 290946, what the average time taken was from referral to finalisation in each year from 2008-09 to 2018-19 where the CPS made a decision to charge and where a trial outcome was recorded in England for cases (a) relating to sexual violence or rape, (b) focusing on actual bodily harm charges, (c) focusing on grievous bodily harm charges and (d) focusing on burglary.

Michael Ellis: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the average time to charge and the average time to prosecute in days by Principal Offence Category and for cases flagged as rape.The tables below show the total average time, in days, from referral to finalisation for each year from 2008/10 to 2018/19 where the CPS made a decision to charge and where a trial outcome was recorded in England.(a)(i) Sexual Offences excluding Rape FlaggedTotal average time (days) from referral to finalisation2008-2009294.502009-2010299.692010-2011300.122011-2012304.012012-2013306.782013-2014285.632014-2015320.442015-2016343.782016-2017347.832017-2018363.742018-2019390.79Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System(a)(ii) Rape FlaggedTotal average time (days) from referral to finalisation2008-2009321.522009-2010336.942010-2011346.952011-2012344.402012-2013351.502013-2014338.362014-2015383.542015-2016381.202016-2017412.842017-2018460.592018-2019495.24Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System (b) & (c) Offences against the PersonTotal average time (days) from referral to finalisation2008-2009192.732009-2010191.062010-2011192.092011-2012194.672012-2013193.292013-2014183.232014-2015194.202015-2016198.222016-2017192.322017-2018191.952018-2019209.96Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System (d) BurglaryTotal average time (days) from referral to finalisation2008-2009200.992009-2010213.212010-2011195.382011-2012190.242012-2013206.282013-2014202.052014-2015226.712015-2016246.062016-2017231.992017-2018246.762018-2019244.81Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System The data provided above is for the more serious cases in which the CPS has been required to authorise charge and in which there has been a trial. MoJ data for all cases in 2018 report figures of between 185 days and 193 days for offence to completion The time taken from referral to finalisation has increased for all crime types. This is due to greater complexity and the increase in electronic material for the police, CPS and courts to consider. In addition the Police are now encouraged to seek early investigative advice more often and in particular in serious, sensitive or complex cases. Early investigative advice helps to ensure that cases are thoroughly investigated and the evidence to be brought before the court is strong. With the increase in early investigative advice, CPS is more often involved at an earlier stage in proceedings. There has also been an increase in the time taken for a case to pass through the courts which has also impacted on overall timeliness.

Trials

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Attorney General, what the average time taken was from referral to finalisation in each year from 2009-10 to 2011-12 where the CPS made a decision to charge and where a trial outcome was recorded in England.

Michael Ellis: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the average time to charge and the average time to prosecute in days.The table below shows the total average time, in days, from referral to finalisation for each year from 2009/10 to 2011/12 where the CPS made a decision to charge and where a trial outcome was recorded in England.Total average time (days) from referral to finalisation2009-2010216.262010-2011217.992011-2012225.27Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System

Ministry of Justice

Fines: Surcharges

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money has been raised by the Victims Surchage in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 17 May 2019.The correct answer should have been:

Income from the Victim Surcharge contributes to the Ministry of Justices’ Victim and Witness Budget (“the Budget”). This budget is used to fund Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) who commission local support services for victims, and nationally commissioned support services including the National Homicide Service, Rape Support Centres, and the Court Based Witness Service. Income from the Victim Surcharge is forecast into the Budget at the beginning of each financial year. However, actual income raised from the Surcharge will fluctuate each year (depending on the amount imposed and collection rates). Should revenue raised from the Surcharge go above the forecast amount, the excess is put towards compensating victims through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Overall amounts are set out in the table below: Financial Year Victim Surcharge (VS) Collected *[1]VS contribution to the Victim and Witness Budget*Overall Victim and Witness Budget*2010/11£110m£110m£48m2011/12£10m£10m£48m2012/13£110m£110m£50m2013/14£2019m£2019m£57m2014/15£254m£254m£86m2015/16£28m£18m£92m2016/17£31m£276m£96m2017/18£35m£31m£97m *The amounts listed in the table have been rounded to the nearest £10m.

Robert Buckland: Income from the Victim Surcharge contributes to the Ministry of Justices’ Victim and Witness Budget (“the Budget”). This budget is used to fund Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) who commission local support services for victims, and nationally commissioned support services including the National Homicide Service, Rape Support Centres, and the Court Based Witness Service. Income from the Victim Surcharge is forecast into the Budget at the beginning of each financial year. However, actual income raised from the Surcharge will fluctuate each year (depending on the amount imposed and collection rates). Should revenue raised from the Surcharge go above the forecast amount, the excess is put towards compensating victims through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Overall amounts are set out in the table below: Financial Year Victim Surcharge (VS) Collected *[1]VS contribution to the Victim and Witness Budget*Overall Victim and Witness Budget*2010/11£110m£110m£48m2011/12£10m£10m£48m2012/13£110m£110m£50m2013/14£2019m£2019m£57m2014/15£254m£254m£86m2015/16£28m£18m£92m2016/17£31m£276m£96m2017/18£35m£31m£97m *The amounts listed in the table have been rounded to the nearest £10m.

Fines: Surcharges

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money from the Victims Surcharge has been allocated to charities supporting victims in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 17 May 2019.The correct answer should have been:

Income from the Victim Surcharge contributes to the Ministry of Justices’ Victim and Witness Budget (“the Budget”). This budget is used to fund Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) who commission local support services for victims, and nationally commissioned support services including the National Homicide Service, Rape Support Centres, and the Court Based Witness Service. Income from the Victim Surcharge is forecast into the Budget at the beginning of each financial year. However, actual income raised from the Surcharge will fluctuate each year (depending on the amount imposed and collection rates). Should revenue raised from the Surcharge go above the forecast amount, the excess is put towards compensating victims through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Overall amounts are set out in the table below: Financial Year Victim Surcharge (VS) Collected *[1]VS contribution to the Victim and Witness Budget*Overall Victim and Witness Budget*2010/11£110m£110m£48m2011/12£10m£10m£48m2012/13£110m£110m£50m2013/14£2019m£2019m£57m2014/15£254m£254m£86m2015/16£28m£18m£92m2016/17£31m£276m£96m2017/18£35m£31m£97m *The amounts listed in the table have been rounded to the nearest £10m.

Robert Buckland: Income from the Victim Surcharge contributes to the Ministry of Justices’ Victim and Witness Budget (“the Budget”). This budget is used to fund Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) who commission local support services for victims, and nationally commissioned support services including the National Homicide Service, Rape Support Centres, and the Court Based Witness Service. Income from the Victim Surcharge is forecast into the Budget at the beginning of each financial year. However, actual income raised from the Surcharge will fluctuate each year (depending on the amount imposed and collection rates). Should revenue raised from the Surcharge go above the forecast amount, the excess is put towards compensating victims through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Overall amounts are set out in the table below: Financial Year Victim Surcharge (VS) Collected *[1]VS contribution to the Victim and Witness Budget*Overall Victim and Witness Budget*2010/11£110m£110m£48m2011/12£10m£10m£48m2012/13£110m£110m£50m2013/14£2019m£2019m£57m2014/15£254m£254m£86m2015/16£28m£18m£92m2016/17£31m£276m£96m2017/18£35m£31m£97m *The amounts listed in the table have been rounded to the nearest £10m.

Hare Coursing: Prosecutions

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many successful prosecutions there have been for hare coursing in each of the last 10 years.

Chris Philp: The Ministry of Justice has published data on the number of prosecutions and convictions for hare coursing offences in England and Wales for the years 2013 to 2018. This data is available in the Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence code data tool available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804510/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2018.xlsx Related offences include:Participating in a hare coursing eventAttending a hare coursing eventKnowingly facilitating a hare coursing eventPermitting land to be used for the purpose of a hare coursing eventPermitting etc a dog to participate in a hare coursing event Search for ‘hare coursing’ in the Detailed offence filter and select the offences of interest.

Prison Sentences

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of phasing out six month custodial sentences in England and Wales.

Chris Philp: Protecting the public will always be our priority. One of the first acts by this Prime Minister was to order an urgent review of sentencing. The focus of the review has been on the sentencing for the most serious violent and sexual offenders and the rules governing when and how those offenders are released. The review has also looked at changes to sentencing for the most prolific offenders which could help break the cycle of reoffending.Based on the findings of the review, we will be bringing forward proposals shortly for a comprehensive package of legislative reform. This will include amending the automatic release point for the most serious sexual and violent offenders (where the offence carries a maximum life sentence) from the half-way point to two thirds of the sentence.As part of this package of reform, we also plan to bring forward proposals for community penalties that offer an appropriate level of punishment, while tackling the underlying drivers of offending. We know that prolific offenders generally have multiple and complex needs which are linked to their offending behaviour, in particular drugs, alcohol and mental health needs. If we are to break the cycle of reoffending, solutions will often lie in community sentences, including those which address offenders’ behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, or provide reparation for the benefit of the wider community.

Ministry of Justice: Data Protection

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding sent by the Cabinet Office to his Department on the sharing of GOV.UK user data with the Government Digital Service.

Chris Philp: The Government Digital Service (GDS) is implementing end-to-end performance monitoring so that GOV.UK can be designed to ensure that people can access the information and services they need as easily as possible. Departments are enabling GDS to centrally collect data on site usage across the GOV.UK estate, to provide an end to end, anonymised view of how people interact with government online. In developing this project, both GDS and departments have taken into account both the data protection regime and other guidance like the Government’s Data Ethics Framework. Clear and robust Memorandums of Understanding set out the terms of the project. The MOUs outline the responsibilities of both the GDS and departments in a number of areas, including handling the relevant data to ensure there is no unauthorised access, loss, misuse, modification or disclosure. The MoUs will be regularly updated in line with the government’s commitment to continuous improvement in digital services and best practice in data and privacy standards. It is a long standing government policy to operate in the spirit of full transparency, and GDS plan to publish the document in due course.

Prisons: Fires

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of fire events in prisons in each of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: The cost of fires in public sector prisons from 2016 - 2019 is shown below. Information for previous years is unavailable due to a change in reporting system. YearCost2016£89,8532017£593,6462018£450,9362019£489,639 These figures comprise the total cost of Respiratory Protective Equipment used in such scenarios, refurbishments, as well as any other miscellaneous costs relating to fire fines. The costs have been collated from the central HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) fire and investigation reporting tool and are only available for the public sector prison estate. Costings for privately managed prison (PMP) are not collected by HMPPS.. We will never compromise on the safety of those in our care, and staff are trained to respond to emergency situations in a timely, appropriate manner. This Government is taking unprecedented action to improve safety in custody. This includes recruiting an additional 4,366 (full time equivalent) prison officers between October 2016 and June 2019, surpassing our original target of 2,500. We are also investing an extra £70 million to improve safety, security and decency.

Prisons: Fires

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) staff and (b) prisoner (i) injuries, (ii) hospitalisations and (iii) fatalities involved fire events in prisons in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested is shown in the table below. Information for 2015 is not available due to system changes and identifying criteria. Prisoner InjuriesPrisoner FatalitiesPrisoner HospitalisationStaff InjuriesStaff FatalitiesStaff Hospitalisation 201622052104 20176403052033 2018512272403 2019291271803  We will never compromise on the safety of those in our care, and staff are trained to respond to emergency situations in a timely and appropriate manner. The Government is taking unprecedented action to improve safety in custody. This includes recruiting an additional 4,366 prison officers between October 2016 and June 2019 and we are investing £100 million, on top of the £70 million we have already invested, to make our prisons safer.Independent investigations of fatalities are undertaken by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman. HM Prison and Probation Service is absolutely committed to controlling any form of ignition sources and combustible materials in prisons.

Prisons: Fires

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of CPS referrals for prosecution involved fire events in prisons in each of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: We do not hold the number of prisoners charged and prosecuted for arson centrally and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

Prisons: Discipline

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will detail the definitions of (a) concerted indiscipline and (b) violent incident required to be used at (i) HMP Parc and (ii) HMP Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The definitions of concerted indiscipline and assaults are: Concerted indiscipline: the number of incidents in which two or more prisoners act together in defiance of a lawful instruction or against the requirements of the regime of the establishment. The act of indiscipline can be active or passive (i.e. involving aggression and violence or not) and the protagonists do not necessarily need to be acting in a common cause. Assaults: refer to unwanted physical contact between two or more individuals, excluding lawful use of force by staff (but including where staff are assaulted during use of force) or anything of a purely verbal or threatening nature. Assaults in prison custody cover a wide range of violent incidents including fights between prisoners. Serious assaults are those which involve one or more of the following: a sexual assault, results in detention in outside hospital as an in-patient, requires medical treatment for concussion or internal injuries. It also includes incurring any of the following injuries: a fracture, scald or burn, stabbing, crushing, extensive or multiple bruising, black eye, broken nose, lost or broken tooth, cuts requiring suturing, bites, temporary or permanent blindness. We do not tolerate violence or disruptive behaviour in our prisons. We’ve recruited 4,366 additional officers and are spending an extra £100m, introducing tough airport-style security, x-ray scanners and phone-blocking technology. We are also committed to ensuring our prison officers have the tools they need to do the job safely with body worn cameras, ‘police-style’ handcuffs and restraints, and PAVA incapacitant spray.

Prisons: Ethnic Groups

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many BAME prisoners were held at (a) HMP Parc and (b) HMP Cardiff prison under (i) remand and (ii) sentence following decisions by courts outside of Wales in each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The below table indicates non white (includes prisoners with ‘not stated’ and ‘not recorded’ ethnicities) prisoners in HMPs Cardiff and Parc with an associated court outside of Wales (includes prisoners with ‘Court not recorded’).  30/06/201530/06/201630/06/201730/06/201830/06/2019  Total75601057187  Of which: Remand1171557Sentenced6246856074Non-Criminal27566

Prisoners: Self-harm

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the statistics collected by his Department from across the prison estate can be broken down into (a) individual episodes of self-harm and (b) episodes of self-harm by an individual in (i) HMP Parc and (ii) HMP Cardiff prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Reoffenders: Sentencing

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to review sentencing policy for prolific offenders.

Chris Philp: Protecting the public will always be our priority. One of the first acts by this Prime Minister was to order an urgent review of sentencing. The focus of the review has been on the sentencing for the most serious violent and sexual offenders and the rules governing when and how those offenders are released. As part of the review, we have also considered changes to sentencing for prolific offenders which could help break the cycle of reoffending.Based on the findings of the review, we will be bringing forward proposals shortly for a comprehensive package of legislative reform. This will include amending the automatic release point for the most serious sexual and violent offenders (where the offence carries a maximum life sentence) from the half-way point to two thirds of the sentence.As part of this package of reform, we also plan to bring forward proposals for community penalties that offer an appropriate level of punishment, while tackling the underlying drivers of offending. We know that prolific offenders generally have multiple and complex needs which are linked to their offending behaviour, in particular drugs, alcohol and mental health needs. If we are to break the cycle of reoffending, solutions will often lie in community sentences, including those which address offenders’ behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, or provide reparation for the benefit of the wider community. On 1 October we announced that we would be introducing Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirements (AAMR) across England and Wales, starting in 2020.

Prison Accommodation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase prison capacity.

Lucy Frazer: The Prime Minister has made clear his focus on tackling crime and recently announced an investment of up to £2.5 billion to transform the prison estate and provide 10,000 additional prison places.The 10,000 places are additional to the 3,500 places already announced, with construction already underway at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, a new houseblock at HMP Stocken in Rutland, which was opened in June, and works at Glen Parva in Leicestershire, due to commence next year.Our recent Spending Review settlement provides the funding for the Ministry of Justice to begin delivering the 10,000 additional places, with outline planning permission approved in September for a new prison at Full Sutton in East Riding of Yorkshire.

Prisons: Crime

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of crime in prisons.

Lucy Frazer: We are taking decisive action to reduce the level of crime in prisons which has a devastating impact on prison safety and undermines our ability to protect the public and rehabilitate offenders. We are investing £100 million in prison security as part of a crackdown on crime behind bars. We are targeting those who bring contraband, such as drugs and mobile phones, into prisons through enhanced gate security for staff and visitors and x-ray body scanners for prisoners. We are also stepping up our counter corruption capability and strengthening (in scale and reach) intelligence-led operations and investigations with law enforcement partners against those that present the greatest threat of harm to prison security and the community. In May, we published the new Crime in Prison Referral Agreement between Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. This sets out how crimes committed within prison, such as serious assaults, will be referred to law enforcement, investigated and prosecuted. It provides a more consistent approach to dealing with these matters.

Knives: Prosecutions

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking with the Attorney General to ensure that people who carry knives are prosecuted.

Chris Philp: We work closely with the Attorney General and Home Office Ministers to ensure the Criminal Justice System commands public confidence and tackles crime effectively. To address this and other serious crimes we’re recruiting 20,000 new police officers, investing £85 million in the CPS and building 10,000 additional prison places, together with the work of PCCs setting up Violence Reduction Units.

Reoffenders

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to help reduce rates of prisoner reoffending.

Lucy Frazer: This Government is committed to keeping the public safe and reducing reoffending by ensuring that all offenders have the tools they need to turn their backs on crime.We know that offenders can have a range of needs, which often drive offending behaviour. Therefore, prisons and probation must provide the opportunity for rehabilitation. That is why we are focusing our efforts on supporting offenders to address any health and wellbeing issues; raise their levels of educational attainment and skills; get a job; and rebuild or reinforce their relationships.A concerted cross-government effort is required to address reoffending. We recently announced a National Partnership Agreement with the DWP, which sets out how the departments will jointly drive rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. We also continue to work closely with our health and justice partners, and are collaborating with MHCLG and local authorities on our offender accommodation pilots.In addition, we are making positive progress in implementing the recommendations set out by Lord Farmer in his report on strengthening prisoners’ family ties.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Modernisation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to modernise the courts and tribunal system.

Chris Philp: Our £1bn modernisation programme has already started improving the experience of those who use and need our courts and tribunals. More than 150,000 people used our new online justice services in 2018, taking the total number to just under 300,000 in the past four years. The public can now apply for uncontested divorce online, apply for probate online, make pleas online for low-level offences (such as traffic offences or evading bus fare), respond to jury summonses, track social security appeals online, and issue and respond to civil money claims. Feedback from those who use our new services has been extremely positive.

Probation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve probation services.

Lucy Frazer: In May, we announced plans to strengthen probation by ending Community Rehabilitation Company contracts early and streamlining responsibilities for public, private and voluntary sector partners. This means the National Probation Service taking on supervision of all offenders, the private sector continuing to drive innovation in interventions, and greater voluntary sector involvement in rehabilitation. In July we published a Draft Operating Blueprint setting out further detail on our plans. We are continuing to test and refine the design for the future model with partners and stakeholders as plans for the transition take shape. In Wales we are proceeding with plans to move the responsibility for supervision of all offenders into the NPS by the end of 2019. Our experience there will help inform the approach to transition in England. We continue to drive improvements in service delivery under existing arrangements, including investing £22m per year to support an additional 500 CRC staff in prisons delivering sustained support for offenders to find accommodation and employment on release.

Probation: Reform

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress he has made on plans for probation reform.

Lucy Frazer: In May, we announced plans to strengthen probation by ending Community Rehabilitation Company contracts early and streamlining responsibilities for public, private and voluntary sector partners. This means the National Probation Service taking on supervision of all offenders, the private sector continuing to drive innovation in interventions, and greater voluntary sector involvement in rehabilitation. In July we published a Draft Operating Blueprint setting out further detail on our plans. We are continuing to test and refine the design for the future model with partners and stakeholders as plans for the transition take shape. In Wales we are proceeding with plans to move the responsibility for supervision of all offenders into the NPS by the end of 2019. Our experience there will help inform the approach to transition in England. We continue to drive improvements in service delivery under existing arrangements, including investing £22m per year to support an additional 500 CRC staff in prisons delivering sustained support for offenders to find accommodation and employment on release.

Prisons

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce costs across the prison estate.

Lucy Frazer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Offenders: Employment

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that offenders find employment on release.

Lucy Frazer: Since we launched our Education and Employment Strategy in May 2018, we have overhauled the prison education system, allowing governors to commission skills-based training and education that meets the needs of the local labour market. We have also introduced the New Futures Network, a specialist part of the Prison Service which brokers partnerships between prisons and employers in England and Wales. New Futures Network is now operating in 14 out of 15 geographical prison group areas and more than 360 businesses have registered an interest in working with prisons to provide work and training opportunities. Additionally, we established new rules to allow governors to get offenders our to work earlier on temporary licence. This will increase the opportunities available for prisoners to secure jobs on release and reduce their chances of reoffending.

Prisoners: Childbirth

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children were born in prisons in the last year.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support his Department provides to pregnant female prisoners.

Lucy Frazer: Information relating to births and pregnancy is recorded locally, and is not collected centrally. Work is currently underway to look at what information related to pregnancy and birth can be collected centrally. Births in prison are extremely rare. Every effort is made to ensure women are in the appropriate hospital setting in order to give birth, however this is not always possible due to the unpredictability of labour. All pregnant women in custody have an individual care and management plan that is communicated to all staff and all pregnant women are seen by a mid-wife at least fortnightly or as required. Women can expect to have access to the same range of services as they would in the community. Healthcare in prisons is provided by trained medics and nurses, but we have also made training on dealing with pregnant women available to all prison officers. A Prison Service Instruction sets out the current policy on Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), and the Policy Guidance adjoining the Women’s Policy Framework 2018 contains comprehensive operational guidance on perinatal support to women in custody. A review of the MBU policy is currently underway.

*No heading*

Stephen McPartland: What plans he has to help reduce reoffending.

Lucy Frazer: This Government is committed to reducing reoffending by ensuring that all offenders have the tools they need to turn their backs on crime. That is why we are focusing our efforts on supporting offenders to address any health and wellbeing issues; raise their levels of educations attainment and skills; get a job; and rebuild or reinforce their relationships. We also know that a concerted cross-government effort is required to address reoffending. For example we recently entered into a National Partnership Agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions, to set out how departments will work together to improve offenders’ chances of securing work and integrate into the community on release from prison. We know that in 39% of violent incidents victims believed alcohol was a factor. We are introducing an Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement, giving courts the power to impose a ban on drinking alcohol as part of a community order where alcohol was a factor in the offending.

*No heading*

Jeff Smith: What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of sentences of less than six months in reducing reoffending.

Chris Philp: Sentencing must match the severity of the crime. Whilst there is evidence that short sentences do not help some offenders turn their backs on crime, protecting the public will always be our priority. As part of our recent review, we have considered changes to sentencing for prolific offenders which could help break the cycle of reoffending. We know that these offenders generally have multiple and complex needs which are linked to their offending behaviour, in particular drugs, alcohol and mental health needs. Solutions will often lie in effective community sentences. We intend to bring forward a comprehensive package of reforms, including to community penalties to ensure they both punish and tackle the underlying drivers of offending.

*No heading*

Mr Gavin Shuker: What recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the rule of law.

Chris Philp: The Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor meet regularly and discuss a range of matters. The Lord Chancellor has sworn an oath to respect the rule of law and to defend the judiciary. It is an oath he takes very seriously. The government will always abide by the law.

*No heading*

Paula Sherriff: What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of drugs being smuggled into prisons.

Lucy Frazer: One of the first things the Lord Chancellor did was to visit HMP Leeds with the Prime Minister where they set out our focus on tackling crime, investing up to £2.5 billion transforming the prison estate and providing 10,000 additional prison places. At HMP Leeds there is an X-ray body scanner installed there to identify items internally concealed on prisoners. HMP Wakefield also has an X-ray body scanner. At HMP New Hall in our women’s estate, the drug threat is different and staff there have worked hard to respond to the inspection report published in April. They have put in place an updated local drug strategy, do more suspicion-led drug testing and store medications in line with clinical guidelines. We have previously invested £70 million to improve safety, security and decency in prisons. We use body, property, cell and area searches across the estate, aided by dedicated search teams and drug detection dogs. As announced in August, we will be spending a further £100 million on prison security. Airport-style security, including X-ray scanners, will be put into prisons across the estate to help stop contraband such as drugs from getting in.

*No heading*

John Lamont: What steps his Department is taking to increase prison capacity.

Lucy Frazer: The Prime Minister has made clear his focus on tackling crime and announced in August an investment of up to £2.5 billion to transform the prison estate and provide 10,000 additional prison places. Our recent Spending Round settlement provides the funding for MoJ to begin delivering this commitment and outline planning permission has been approved for a new prison at Full Sutton. The 10,000 places are additional to the 3,500 places, which we have begun at Wellingborough; that we will start building at Glen Parva next year, and; that we have already built at HMP Stocken.

*No heading*

Bill Wiggin: What plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that hon. Members are not prevented from participating in business in the House due to jury service responsibilities.

Chris Philp: Trial by jury is fundamental to our world leading justice system and serving as a juror is one of the most important civic duties that anyone can be asked to perform. The Jury Manual identifies that MPs who seek excusal on the grounds of parliamentary duties should be deferred in the first instance. This allows them to identify a more convenient time and strikes a sensible balance, ensuring that MPs are able to carry out their crucial role in this place. If an MP feels that it is inappropriate to serve in his own constituency, he or she should be allowed to serve elsewhere. Any individual requests for jury service to be deferred would be a matter for our independent judiciary

Cabinet Office

Brexit

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish (a) the most up-to-date version of the 1 August 2019 Operation Yellowhammer document and (b) the dates on which each version of that document was circulated; what the distribution list is for that document; and for what reasons the assumptions in each version changed.

Michael Gove: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Members: Correspondence

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Wakefield of 3 September 2019 to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, on the Get ready for Brexit campaign.

Kevin Foster: I apologise for the delay in replying to the letter from the hon. Member and can assure her she will receive a response as soon as possible.

Government Departments: Photographers and Videographers

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) contracted and (b) employed photographers and videographers were employed by each government department in the last 12 months.

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times (a) photographs and (b) videos produced for HMG official purposes were provided to the Conservative Party in the last 12 months; and what the cost of compensating HMG was for those rights.

Kevin Foster: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conduct

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has any plans to update the special advisers' code of conduct.

Kevin Foster: The last update to the Special Adviser’s Code of Conduct was in December 2016. This document is kept under regular review.In December 2018, the Minister for the Constitution announced work to review how Special Adviser’s terms can be made clearer and consistent (19 December 2018 Vol. 651, [HCWS1216]). This work is ongoing.

Johnny Mercer: Crucial Academy

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department first received a communication from the hon. Member for Plymouth Moor View on the (a) continuation and (b) termination of his role at Crucial Academy Ltd.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department first received a communication from the hon. Member for Plymouth Moor View on the (a) continuation and (b) termination of his role at Crucial Academy Ltd.

Kevin Foster: The Ministerial Code sets out the process by which Ministers should declare and manage potential conflicts of interest, working with their Permanent Secretary and the independent adviser on Ministers’ interests.As part of this process the Minister declared his directorship in Crucial Academy following his appointment and has resigned from this role. Whilst this process has been underway, the Ministry of Defence put in place measures to avoid any potential conflict. Sir Alex Allan, the independent adviser, has not raised any concerns about the conduct and there has been no breach of the Ministerial Code.

Cabinet Office: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.

Kevin Foster: I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer given to Question 198752 on 7 January 2019.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Complaints

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many complaints in relation to the conduct of Special Advisers in each government department were submitted to the (a) Ethics and Propriety team and (b) the Cabinet Secretary since the formation of the Government in 2017.

Kevin Foster: The responsibility for the management and conduct of Special Advisers, including discipline, rests with the Minister who made the appointment, as per paragraph 3.3 of the Ministerial Code.

Brexit: Publicity

Layla Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 01 October 2019 to Question 291474 on Get Ready for Brexit Advertising, when the Government plans to publish regular spending figures for the Get Ready for Brexit advertising campaign.

Kevin Foster: The Cabinet Office has undertaken to publish information relating to ongoing expenditure on the public information campaign as part of the department’s monthly data transparency releases. The published information will be available on a regular basis on GOV.UK here: (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data)

Brexit

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times an end to end assessment and proposed actions has been prepared since 1 January 2018 in response to the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, and if he will place in the House of Commons library the most recent document.

Kevin Foster: Today (08/10/2019) The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster laid the No Deal Readiness Report in the Houses of Parliament. This document outlines how the Government is preparing for an outcome in which we leave without a deal.

Brexit: Publicity

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 291346 on the Get ready for Brexit campaign, if he will publish (a) the details of all contracts over £10,000 awarded by Manning Gottlieb OMD on behalf of the Government and (b) a list of where and when all Get ready for Brexit campaign events have been held.

Kevin Foster: The Cabinet Office has undertaken to publish information relating to ongoing expenditure as part of the department’s monthly data transparency releases. The published information will be available on a regular basis on GOV.UK here: (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data)“Get Ready for Brexit” is a public information campaign that provides the facts citizens and businesses need to know about the preparations they need to take to be ready for when the UK leaves the EU. The campaign has many direct and local elements including business roundtables, public meetings, ministerial visits and local authority events. A full list of the events that have taken place since the campaign launched on 1 September can be found at Annex A. 



ANNEX A
(Excel SpreadSheet, 16.27 KB)

Government Chief Data Officer

Jo Platt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September to Question 286366 and with reference to page 10 of the Government Transformation Strategy, which Minister made the decision to extend the objective of appointing a Chief Data Officer from by 2020 to in 2020; and on what date that decision was made.

Simon Hart: No decision has been made regarding an extension of the objective of appointing a Chief Data Officer It remains our intention to appoint the Chief Data Officer in the timescales set out in the Government Transformation Strategy.

Office for Tackling Injustices

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office,  what progress he has made on the establishment of the Office for Tackling Injustices; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Dowden: We are considering how best to take forward this work in the light of the new Government’s domestic priorities and will provide an update in due course.

Cabinet Office: Brexit

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings (a) members of the Cabinet and (b) their predecessors have had with EU officials in each of the last twelve months.

Kevin Foster: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Civil Service: Pay

Angela Crawley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the civil service pay increase, announced in June 2019 is not in line with inflation.

Angela Crawley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons hon. Members received a pay rise of 2.7 per cent which was backdated to April 2019 and civil servants received a pay increase of 1.84 per cent which was backdated to June 2019.

Angela Crawley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to align the pay of civil servants in England, Scotland and Wales to the level of pay of civil servants employed in Scotland.

Simon Hart: Civil service pay, excluding the Senior Civil Service, is delegated to departments and to the Devolved Administrations.For 2019/20, government departments have flexibility to make average pay settlements of up to 2%, depending on their workforce requirements and affordability. Any department wishing to pay an award above 2% is able to submit a business case to HM Treasury and Cabinet Office for ministerial approval. Departments are also able to meet the costs of increases to the National Living Wage outside of the 2%.MPs’ pay is set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which is independent from government.

Government Departments: Disability

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people in each Government Department that  left work as a result of a (a) disability and (b) long-term health condition in (i) 2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.

Simon Hart: Information on the number of people in each government department who left work as a result of a disability or a long-term health condition is not held centrally by Cabinet Office.The Civil Service is committed to becoming the UK’s most inclusive employer by 2020; which means attracting and retaining the best talent from all diverse backgrounds, including those with a disability.To achieve this, Sir Philip Rutnam, CS Disability Champion, has set out a clear vision for a disability confident and disability inclusive Civil Service; with a specific priority to develop and retain disabled talent. These include; ensuring our disabled staff have access to effective and timely workplace adjustments and access to mainstream talent development programmes and positive action schemes to enable disabled staff to thrive and realise their full potential. https://civilservice.blog.gov.uk/2016/03/22/my-priorities-as-civil-service-disability-champion/The Civil Service publishes annual statistics on the number of disabled employees. These show that the proportion of civil servants who are declared disabled has increased every year since 2010, from 7.6% in 2010 to 11.7% in 2019.

Election Offences

Jo Stevens: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to review the maximum fine that can be levied for breaching electoral law.

Kevin Foster: The Electoral Commission is the independent regulatory body responsible for ensuring that elections and referendums are run effectively and in accordance with the law.The Commission has civil sanctioning powers that apply to referendums and elections. More serious criminal matters can and are referred to the police, and then considered by a court of law.The Electoral Commission has recommended that its sanctioning powers be increased and the Government is considering this.

Databases

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister and his advisers concerning centralisation of data collection in Government.

Simon Hart: The details of meetings between Ministers and their advisers are confidential.Having a comprehensive anonymised view of how people interact with government services online is an important part of developing services which provide information in a way users understand.

Reform

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in his Department on (a) reform of electoral law and (b) data protection.

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on (a) data protection and (b) electoral reform.

Kevin Foster: The Cabinet Office is taking a cross-Government approach to the safeguarding of our electoral processes through the Defending Democracy programme and we continue to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This work is led within the Cabinet Office by the Minister for the Constitution, under the oversight of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.The Government remains committed to ensuring our electoral law is fit for purpose, now and into the future. In May this year, the Government announced we would be launching a consultation on electoral integrity. As part of that, we are considering measures to strengthen the regulatory framework around elections and ensure they are fully up to date for a modern electoral system. We are also awaiting the publication of the final report from the Law Commission on their review of electoral law, which we understand will be published early next year, and will look at their recommendations and comments with interest.DCMS is responsible for data protection policy and sponsors the independent regulator of the Data Protection Act 2018, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO are consulting on a draft framework code of practice for the use of personal data in political campaigning, which concluded on 04 October.

Cabinet Office: Ministerial Duties

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) meetings and (b) subject matter of each such meeting he has attended on matters relating to his ministerial responsibilities since his appointment.

Kevin Foster: Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.